Born in Syracuse, N.Y. and raised nearby, Sybil McFall met her husband Joe during her MFA studies at the University of Georgia. . When she found she was pregnant with a son she was deeply happy. Sadly, she never got to see her son. She suffered a severe brain injury two weeks before her due date and did not survive. She had indicated that she wished to be an organ donor. While her family suffered a great loss in Sybil, they were able to take some comfort in the fact that she gave life to many others, including the 11-year-old girl who received her heart..

Sybil's Story

Sybil McFall's grandmother was one of her great inspirations. She always encouraged Sybil never to give up, and heeded that advice. Born in Syracuse, N.Y. and raised nearby, Sybil played lacrosse in high school and at College of Wooster in Ohio. She showed interest in art from an early age, studied violin, and majored in ceramics in college. She received an MFA from the University of Georgia in Fabric Design.

She was able to study in Scotland, where she did metalwork at Glasgow Art Institute, and in Japan at the Fabric Design School in Osaka. She also continued her sports activities, competing in a triathlon for the Leukemia Foundation in St. Petersburg, while she was completing her master's degree.

During her studies at UGA she met Joe McFall, who was also doing graduate work, and their relationship continued in Atlanta, where they decided to marry. She continued up to her own very untimely death to create lovely and sometimes whimsical fabric works.

When she found she was pregnant with a son she was deeply happy. She had taken all the precautions she knew to assure a safe and successful pregnancy.

Sadly, she never got to see her son, who has turned out to be a very healthy and happy baby. She suffered a severe brain injury about two weeks before her due date and did not survive.

Characteristically, she had indicated to Joe and on her driver's license that she wished to be an organ donor should the situation arise, and her family saw to it that her decision was honored. While her family suffered a great loss in Sybil, they were able to take some comfort in the fact that she gave life to many others through the gift of her organs, including her heart, which beats on in an 11-year-old girl.