Obituary for Sylvanus "Bone /Ham / Hambone" Lofland Jr.
Sylvanus Lofland, Jr., son of the late Sylvanus Lofland, Sr. and Ethel Mears Lofland, was born on September 28, 1937, in Melfa, Virginia. Sylvanus passed away quietly surrounded by his loving family on July 10, 2021 at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock, Virginia.
Sylvanus Lofland Jr., affectionately called “Ham” by his wife and “Bone” by his family, was married to the love of his life, Mary “Nuddie” Elizabeth Scarborough Lofland. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on May 23rd with a surprise event given to them by their grandchildren.
Sylvanus and Mary were blessed with eight wonderful and supportive children. Two of these children they lost as infants, William Thomas and Keith Lionell. Sylvanus was also preceded in death by his daughter, Joyce Lofland and his granddaughter, Tykeshia “Keddie” Lofland.
Ham/Bone did not have much of a formal education, he had to stop school early in life. He worked hard to provide for his family. He was always giving “Life Lessons” on how to make it when times get hard. Ham/Bone was often seen driving his pick-up truck with his left arm out of the window and a cigar in his mouth or sitting outside under a tree. These were the simple pleasures of his life. For several years, he worked at the Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center, the Lewis Brothers Sawmill, Perdue Farms, Inc., and lastly the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club.
In March of 2019, Sylvanus Lofland, Jr. surrendered his life to Christ and became an active member of New Allen Memorial AME Church in Franktown. He was heard saying “It’s sure ‘nough better with Him than without Him.” Though his health and COVID-19 may have prevented him from coming to church, he always made sure his tithes and offerings got there.
Ham/Bone’s quiet strength will be missed by so many. His memory will be cherished forever by his wife, Mary Lofland; his daughters, Gladys Strand of Painter, VA, Sheila Giddens of Onancock, VA, Mary Lofland of Exmore, VA, and Sandra Lofland of Painter, VA; his son, Sylvanus Lofland of Selbyville, DE; his sister, Ethel Lofland Young of Baltimore, MD; his sister-in-law, Helen (James) Kellam of Painter, VA; his brothers-in-law, Joseph (Georgie) Sample of Painter, VA, and James Lee Scarborough of New Jersey; his thirteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Some of Bone’s “Words of Wisdom” given to his family over the years were:
Get yourself a piece of land. And you’ll always have yourself some money.
Get yourself some 666 and Fisherman’s Friend and that cold will be gone.
Baby teething? Put a little whiskey on his gums. It won’t hurt, do him some good.
Always check and change the oil, it is the life of your car.
Don’t let nobody else drive your car, cause they are just going to tear it up.
When you point the finger at someone, you’ve got 4 more pointing back at you.
If you want something, you get out there and you work for it.
If you make your bed hard, you got to waddle it soft.
You made your bed, now you gotta lay in it.
A hard head makes a soft behind.
Worrying don’t change a thing.
An empty can/cart makes the most noise.
Never let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.
No matter what, never allow a person to walk on top of you.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
If you don’t have all of the money, tell them what you can pay.
Pay your bills, but don’t give the man all of your money.
Sylvanus Lofland Jr., affectionately called “Ham” by his wife and “Bone” by his family, was married to the love of his life, Mary “Nuddie” Elizabeth Scarborough Lofland. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on May 23rd with a surprise event given to them by their grandchildren.
Sylvanus and Mary were blessed with eight wonderful and supportive children. Two of these children they lost as infants, William Thomas and Keith Lionell. Sylvanus was also preceded in death by his daughter, Joyce Lofland and his granddaughter, Tykeshia “Keddie” Lofland.
Ham/Bone did not have much of a formal education, he had to stop school early in life. He worked hard to provide for his family. He was always giving “Life Lessons” on how to make it when times get hard. Ham/Bone was often seen driving his pick-up truck with his left arm out of the window and a cigar in his mouth or sitting outside under a tree. These were the simple pleasures of his life. For several years, he worked at the Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center, the Lewis Brothers Sawmill, Perdue Farms, Inc., and lastly the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club.
In March of 2019, Sylvanus Lofland, Jr. surrendered his life to Christ and became an active member of New Allen Memorial AME Church in Franktown. He was heard saying “It’s sure ‘nough better with Him than without Him.” Though his health and COVID-19 may have prevented him from coming to church, he always made sure his tithes and offerings got there.
Ham/Bone’s quiet strength will be missed by so many. His memory will be cherished forever by his wife, Mary Lofland; his daughters, Gladys Strand of Painter, VA, Sheila Giddens of Onancock, VA, Mary Lofland of Exmore, VA, and Sandra Lofland of Painter, VA; his son, Sylvanus Lofland of Selbyville, DE; his sister, Ethel Lofland Young of Baltimore, MD; his sister-in-law, Helen (James) Kellam of Painter, VA; his brothers-in-law, Joseph (Georgie) Sample of Painter, VA, and James Lee Scarborough of New Jersey; his thirteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Some of Bone’s “Words of Wisdom” given to his family over the years were:
Get yourself a piece of land. And you’ll always have yourself some money.
Get yourself some 666 and Fisherman’s Friend and that cold will be gone.
Baby teething? Put a little whiskey on his gums. It won’t hurt, do him some good.
Always check and change the oil, it is the life of your car.
Don’t let nobody else drive your car, cause they are just going to tear it up.
When you point the finger at someone, you’ve got 4 more pointing back at you.
If you want something, you get out there and you work for it.
If you make your bed hard, you got to waddle it soft.
You made your bed, now you gotta lay in it.
A hard head makes a soft behind.
Worrying don’t change a thing.
An empty can/cart makes the most noise.
Never let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.
No matter what, never allow a person to walk on top of you.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
If you don’t have all of the money, tell them what you can pay.
Pay your bills, but don’t give the man all of your money.