Sydney Earl Guest, 81, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. A visitation was held Saturday, Jan.23, 2021, from 10 a.m. to noon at Oxford-University United Methodist Church (424 S. 10th St, Oxford, MS) in the atrium. A Memorial Service will follow in the sanctuary at noon. Interment will be at Lambert Cemetery (210 Buford Lake Road, Lambert, MS). Rev. Dr. Christopher T. McAlilly will officiate. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. 

Mr. Guest was born to O B and Anna Grace Rollins Guest in Drew, MS. He was truly committed to his family and will be intensely missed by all of them. Mr. Guest was a member of First Baptist Church in Lambert, MS where he was baptized. 

Mr. Guest attended Northwest Mississippi Community College where he earned his Associate’s degree while playing basketball. He received a Bachelor’s degree in business from Delta State University. He returned to his hometown to become president of the Bank of Lambert. But one calling was not enough. He obtained his real estate license, and he owned a grocery store, a restaurant, a car dealership, and was also a farmer. Sydney grew his bank. His method in farm country was to go the extra mile for his customers. His parents demanded hard work and dedication – traits he encouraged in his customers. He made loans rejected by his superiors and did not give up on his customers. He grew the Bank of Lambert even as it was absorbed into the larger Bank of Clarksdale and then Regions. Toward the end of his career, Syd was brought to the First Security Bank in Tunica. 

Yet, more important to him than all these was the years that he spent volunteering as a basketball coach. Through coaching, he mentored and influenced many young people.  Mr. Guest taught life through sports and used sports to help transform young lives. His dedication to girls’ basketball at Delta Academy forged teams dedicated to defense, hard work, and team work. His coaching of the youth over many years led to many regional and even state championships. The Delta coaches saw the benefit of Syd’s methods and welcomed his dedication and influence, 

Family was everything to Sydney Guest. He loved spending time with his family at Ole Miss sporting events. It really didn’t matter which sport; he was just a Rebel at heart. 

Everyone who knew Sydney Guest was influenced by him. He was a friend to all. He cared about other people, especially anyone in need. His generosity was limitless. He was loving, kind hearted, compassionate, hardworking, and trustworthy. He had a magnetic personality that lit any room he entered and made people feel loved and wanted. Caring for others, working hard, and never quitting are a legacy that his family is honored to receive from him. 

Mr. Guest is survived by his three daughters, Delia Childers, Anna Kathryn Dawson, and Donna McCormack; his grandchildren, Grace Childers, Alex Childers, Eva Childers, Isabel Dawson, Carter Dawson, and Henry McCormack; his brother, Ronnie (Joan) Guest; his sister, Daphene (Clifford) Cobb; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, O B and Anna Grace Guest. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Memory Makers ( https://memorymakers.org/ ), The Marks Project (c/o Mitch Campbell P.O. Box 87 Taylor, MS 38674) or Marks Youth Outreach (Box 134 Marks, MS 38646)  

Please leave online condolences on the Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.