Twyla Edgalyn Castleberry Sullivan, 91, died July 13, 2026 in Tallahassee, Fla., following a brief illness.
She was born on October 30, 1934, in Castleberry, to Fern F. Lawrence Castleberry and Byrd Lester Castleberry. The family moved to Quincy, Fla., where she learned to play the French horn in high school. Upon graduation, she followed the example of her older sister, Gladys, and joined the U.S. Air Force. Her musical talent allowed her to join the Women’s Air Force Band and tour with them as good-will ambassadors until her marriage in 1954 to Curtis L. Sullivan, Jr.
She went on to become the loving mother of Curtis L. “Bubba” Sullivan, III and daughter, Twyla Edgalyn “Cice” Sullivan Waller.
Sadly, she was predeceased by her husband, children, and a sister Gladys Carolyn Castleberry Edwards, and niece, Starlinne Sullivan.
In addition to her music, Twyla was a remarkable creative talent who spent her days using acrylic paints to create beautiful pictures, hand-sewing wardrobes for Barbie dolls, forming exquisite miniature bread-dough sculptures and dioramas, arranging flowers for the church, crocheting, stringing bead necklaces, woodworking projects and sewing clothes for herself and Cice. You could usually find Twyla’s front yard blooming with a variety of colorful flowers which she enjoyed while sitting on the porch with her best friend, neighbor and distant cousin, Richard Holland Glass.
There came a time when Richard had to move from Castleberry to live nearer his sons. It was then, in November 2018, when Gladys’ daughters were excited to be able to bring Twyla to live near them in Tallahassee, Florida.
Survivors include her brother, Lloyd Lester Castleberry of Quincy, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Debra Hadley Sullivan and sisters-in-law Evelyn Sullivan Bower and Alice “Petie” Sullivan Mosley of Mobile; nieces and nephews include: Fernmarie (David) Carolyn Edwards Arnold, Richard Donald Edwards, Dennis (Sherry) Steven Edwards, Janet (Jim) Elaine Edwards Moran, Teresa Ann Edwards, Dinah K. Castleberry Mathews, Julie Castleberry Henderson, Marcia (Dwayne) Sullivan, and Mary Sullivan. Twyla also had 11 great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Brewton. Interment followed at Buffington Cemetery in Castleberry.
Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.