Sylvia was born on October 31, 1910 in Philadelphia, P.A. She was the youngest of four children and the only girl. Sylvia came to New York City when she was only ten months old. Her and her family moved to 125th Street in Harlem. At the age of 17, she was employed by a music production company as a secretary. The song "My Blue Heaven" written by McDonald in 1927 was written right next to her office. She experienced three pregnancies; two which resulted in still deaths of baby girls and then the birth of her only child, a healthy baby boy named Warren Bruce. She was married in 1940 and was married for 58 years, until the untimely death of her husband, Morris. Her mother's name was Elsa. She was a little woman, a bit chubby and very alert. She recalls always keeping a step ladder due to her height. She died in 1951 of heart complications; however Sylvia’s father was too ill to see her in her last days. His name was Harry. He was a small man willing and able to do anything for his family. He owned and operated a barber shop in Harlem and the family lived in a small apartment above the shop. He played every musical instrument available to him, without any professional teaching. He spent a lot of time in the hospital in his last days and Sylvia spent very limited time with him. He was a very bright man, and she was always daddy's little girl. Sadly he never knew of his wife's death. Sylvia recalls her parents always pointing out the importance of arriving on time to appointments, school, work, etc. She comically mentions how she has instilled the same values in her son. Her only child lives near the Willow Towers Assisted Living. He owns two cats and calls them Sylvia's grandchildren. She is the last living member in her family. She feels today's youth isn't that much different from hers, except things are much more open than before.