UPDATED WITH SERVICE DATES: Sylvia Lockett, School Board member and longtime educator, dies at 65

The funeral for School Board member Sylvia Kay Lockett, a longtime educator in both east and west St. Mary Parish, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Friday in Baldwin.
Lockett died Oct. 8 at Franklin Foundation Hospital.
“Her legacy as a life-long educator will never be forgotten,” said a post on West St. Mary High’s Facebook page. “Rest in Power.”
Facebook posts mourning Lockett’s death began showing up early Saturday morning.
Lockett, 65, was a native and resident of the Four Corners area.
She had served on the St. Mary Parish School Board beginning in January 2019 after qualifying without opposition to represent District 2 in western St. Mary.
Lockett earned her bachelor of arts degree at Southern University in 1978 and returned to Southern in 1993 for her master’s degree and master’s plus 30.
She started teaching in 1978 at Bayou Vista Elementary, and also taught at Thomas Gibbs, Centerville, Julia B. Maitland and G.W. Hamilton elementary schools.
From 1993 to 1996, she was the district’s instructional facilitator/specialist in staff development.
Lockett was principal at Thomas Gibbs 1996-99 and at Hernandez Elementary 1999-2014.
“St. Mary Parish Schools is deeply saddened by the passing of a longtime educator who helped lead our schools through many changes in public education,” Superintendent Dr. Teresa Bagwell said in an email Monday.
“Ms. Lockett demonstrated a strong belief and commitment in the importance of education particularly, its role in impacting future generations. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to her family and friends in this time of sorrow.”
A public viewing will be conducted 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Jones Funeral Home, 1101 Main St., Franklin
Viewing and visitation will resume beginning at 8 a.m. Friday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 414 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Baldwin, until the beginning of the Omega Omega Services of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. at 11 a.m.
Tributes and expressions will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a rosary being recited at high noon. ‘
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. with burial following the Mass at the Sorrel Community Cemetery.