Daniel Melvin Sykes Sr

Daniel Melvin Sykes, Sr. was born April 12, 1942 in New Orleans, LA to the union of Lee and Marylee Eugene Sykes. Daniel went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 25, 2017 surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 2, 2017 at Calvary Tabernacle CME Church, 3629 Dryades Street, New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held at 9:00 am and funeral at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Providence Memorial Park, 8200 Airline Highway, Metairie, LA. Daniel attended public schools in New Orleans, LA and graduated from Walter L. Cohen High School in 1959 at the age of 16. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Dillard University in December 1962 where he also became a brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He received a Master of Natural Sciences degree from Louisiana State University in 1974. In 1967, he married the love of his life, Agnes Sylvia Will, with whom he just celebrated 50 years of marriage. Three children were born to their union, Daniel Jr., Paul and Mary Ain. He lived his life for his family. He was not only instrumental in the lives of his children and grandchildren but also in the lives of everyone that he touched. Daniel leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Agnes Sylvia Will Sykes; three devoted children: Dr. Daniel M. Sykes, Jr. (Tara), Dr. Paul T. Sykes (Teasa), Mary Ain R. Sykes-Assadi (Kamran) all of Pearland, TX and a foster daughter, Tara Thomas of New Orleans, LA; five grandchildren: Ethan Sykes, Emma Sykes, Quentin Sykes, Lauren Sykes and Lily Assadi all of Pearland, TX; two brothers: his twin, Donald M. Sykes, Sr. (Irene) of New Orleans, LA and Reginald W. Sykes, Sr. (JoAnne) of Savannah, GA; six sisters-in-law: Mary Ruth Richard, Elizabeth Aline Will, Catherine W. Cheeks all of Baton Rouge, LA, Bernardine W. Sullivan of Fort Worth, TX, Isadora R. Wills of Houston, TX and Verna Brown Will of Simmesport, LA. He was a proud uncle to Deborah Smith-Cosey, Lee Michael Smith, Major Donald Sykes, Jr., Kimberly Gadsden, Reginald Sykes, Jr., Stephanie Davis, Tracy Sykes and Brian Sykes. He was also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Marylee Sykes; his sister, Delores Sykes Smith; his nephews, David Smith, Jr. and Daniel R. Smith, Sr. and great-nephew, David Smith, III. A memorial service will be held in Houston, Texas at a later date.