Sylvia Henderson Elkins, a lifelong South Carolina resident whose career spanned three decades in the financial industry followed by a distinct second chapter as a licensed cosmetologist, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the age of 85, as reported by Shives Funeral Home.
A Life Rooted in the Midlands
Born in Columbia on November 25, 1940, Sylvia was the daughter of the late Heyward E. Morse, Sr., and Annie Mae Cunningham Morse. She grew up attending Dentsville High School, where her early years included playing on the basketball team and cheering from the sidelines. It was during those formative school years that she met Arthur Hamlet Henderson. The two were married on April 11, 1959, embarking on a 41-year marriage that saw them raise two children, daughter Linda and son Richard.
Her professional trajectory broke traditional molds for her generation. Sylvia dedicated 30 years to a successful career in the financial industry, earning numerous accolades and ultimately serving as president of the American Bankers Association. Yet, retirement at age 50 marked only a pivot point rather than a slowdown. She returned to school to earn her license as a cosmetologist, demonstrating a persistent drive to learn and master new crafts.
Volunteering and Personal Interests in Columbia
Beyond her professional pursuits, Sylvia maintained an active presence in the Columbia and Elgin areas through civic engagement. She volunteered for Providence Hospital, the March of Dimes, and the Governor’s Cup Road Race. Her spiritual life centered around Spears Creek Baptist Church, where she regularly attended services. Away from her commitments, her interests leaned toward simple pleasures: traveling, dancing, camping, watching old westerns on television, and caring for animals.
Her later years brought both loss and enduring family connections. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Arthur H. Henderson, her second husband Glenn Elkins, her siblings Cecile Wade and Heyward E. Morse, Jr., and her best friend of 50 years, Maxine Sands.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Linda H. Lee, married to Bill, of Elgin, and her son Richard Henderson. Her family tree extends through three grandchildren—Jessica L. Mosier and her husband Mark of Elgin, Billy Lee and his wife Sorrel of Lugoff, and Ryan Lee and his wife Jessica of Camden—along with five great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Caydence, Wesley, Brooklyn, and Bridget. She is also survived by her brother Steven Morse of Tennessee.
Final Arrangements and Memorials
The family has expressed specific gratitude to the staff at Agape Hospice House of Lexington, South Carolina, with special thanks directed to nurses Amanda and Kelly for their care during her final days.
Per the family’s wishes, a private service will be held. In lieu of traditional arrangements, the family requests that memorials be made to Prisma Health Pediatric Oncology in Columbia, South Carolina. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family with the arrangements.
