Sylvester J. Townsend, Sr.

Sylvester J. Townsend, Sr.

Townsend, Sylvester, “Syl” AGE 78, accepted his invitation to Heaven on January 5, 2018.

The son of the late Willie and Ella Mae Townsend, Syl grew up as the “baby” of seven children.  His family moved to Kansas City, Kansas when he was seven years old and he spent the first half of his life there.   He attended Kansas City Public Schools and was a proud graduate of Sumner High School, Class of ’57. He later attended Kansas City, Kansas Junior College and Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Syl had an illustrious career in the automotive industry.  In 1962, he began his first full-time job in the Material Department at General Motors Fairfax Plant in Kansas City, Kansas where he was the first African American salaried employee.  In 1973, he was transferred to the General Motors Detroit Assembly Plant where he served as Supervisor in the Material Department. Syl and his family relocated to Dayton in 1980 when he was selected to be a part of the initial team that opened the Truck and Bus Plant in Moraine, Ohio.

In 1983, Syl had the opportunity to launch his own business—Jamestown Industries, Inc.  Over the course of two decades, the company—which was a supplier to General Motors—grew from 30 employees to over 400.  Under Syl’s leadership, Jamestown Industries was awarded the prestigious GM Supplier of the Year award. While it is rare for many family businesses to make it to the second generation, in 2011, Syl turned over the business to his sons—Syl, Jr. and Kerry Townsend—and he became chairman of the board.

Unknown to many, Syl enjoyed dancing (doing “The Slop” and “The Mashed Potato”), boating (aboard the HH Syl-Rae) and competing in the annual Trans-Am National Car Show where his 1969 Firebird won the national championship in its category three times.   He was also a life-long fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.

While Syl was well-known as a businessman, his family and his faith were equally important.  Syl accepted Christ at a young age and was always involved in the church. He was a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas, and when the family relocated to Dayton, they joined Tabernacle Baptist Church where he was a faithful member since 1983.  During his membership, Syl was co-teacher in the Junior Church, served on the Scholarship Committee and supported Tabernacle’s Boy Scouts program.

Syl was preceded in death by his brothers Floyd, Willie, Jr. and Hildred Townsend.

Syl’s life will be cherished and lovingly remembered by his wife Ramona, to whom he was married for fifty-six years; his sons, Sylvester, Jr. (Karen) and Kerry (Sonya), Dayton, Ohio; and his daughter, Tammy (Ronald) Bates, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; his eight granddaughters:  Lindsey Wood, Harlem, New York; Laci Smith, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Sorel Woods, Kyra Townsend, Karmen Townsend, Kameron Townsend, Atlanta, Georgia; Syron Townsend, Brooklyn, New York; and Kaelyn Townsend, Dayton, Ohio; his seven great-grandchildren: Micah, Miles, Milyn, Mylah, and Mackenzie, Atlanta, Georgia; London and Lauren, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; siblings:  Marion Parker and Alphonse Parker, Cleveland, Ohio; Hattie (Hayward) Spears, Leawood, Kansas; sister-in-law Evelyn Townsend, Kansas City, Kansas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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