One of Cumberland County’s most beloved school bus drivers has passed away.  Sylvia Lewis (Pelfrey) suffered a stroke last week while she was driving her bus.  Fortunately she was able to pull the bus over and stop before she lost consciousness.  She was airlifted to a Knoxville hospital where doctors determined she had suffered a catastrophic brain bleed.  Sylvia was brought home with family and friends caring for her as she lay in a coma.    Sylvia never regained consciousness and died Easter Sunday morning at her home.  Sylvia was a Homesteader who loved her animals, especially her horses, and she love the thousands of students she took to and from school for more that two decades.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In honor of Sylvia, the Cumberland Homestead Tower Association has changed the Tower Light to Red with this notation:

With the permission of the family of Sylvia Lewis, the light at the top of the tower as been changed to red. The red light is in recognition of all the love she has bestowed onto countless generations of children, friends, family and the Homestead community. Ironically, red is also her favorite color. Please keep her and her family in your prayers during this difficult time.