Former Teacher of the Year Grace Sypert Echols died at the age of 87.

She was born October 21, 1912, in Brooksville. She was the daughter of Frank and Mahala Sypert.

She graduated from Dunbar High School and earned her bachelor of science in early education, magna cum laude, in 1941 from Langston University. She received her master of education in 1954.

In 1934 she married Anthony Winfield Echols.

She was a Sunday school teacher, resource division member and deaconess at Union Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Echols taught school in Brooksville, Macomb, Shawnee and in the Alum Rock school district in San Jose, California.

She also served on the board of directors of the Frank Sypert African-American Community Services Agency. She aided and worked with the San Jose Campus Christian Ministry at San Jose State University.

Over the years, she held various offices in the Garden City Women's Club, including president and treasurer. She was a member of the Excelsior Federated Women's Club for more than fifty years, and received The San Jose PTA Service Award, the Teacher of the Year {Donald J. Meyer School} and the Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America Award.

Survivors include daughters, Velma Hutton and Ruth Ashford; three grandsons, Vincent, Tony and Barry; one great-grandson, Anthony Michael Jr.; sister, Ruth Sypert Porter, San Jose, California; sisters-in-law, Lucille Williams and Ruth McClain, Oklahoma City; Ruby Sypert, Vallejo; Kathryn Sypert, Shawnee; brother-in-law, Clarence Echols, Oklahoma City; friends, Laura Williams, Berkeley; Fay Wembleton, Los Angeles; and Freddie Williams, Oklahoma City; and nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.

A memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Shawnee Community Center.

Hewlett-Packard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.