Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Candelaria Norma Silva-Collins was webcast Saturday May 9, 2026 from Sardis Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC.
Memorial Program
Memorial Repast Slideshow
View Candelaria’s Obituary
Candelaria Norma Silva-Collins Memorial 13 comments
Candelaria was a second mom and mentor to me, my sister and so many others. I will miss the birthday and holiday cards she would send every year. I am so happy I was able to laugh with her a few months ago. I will forever cherish the moments I had with her on this earth. My deepest condolences to her husband, children, grandchildren, and the rest of the family.
Condolences to the family. I met Calendaria recently and she seeded her wisdom into me in those brief moments. I appreciated her! May she rest in power.
While vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard Tessil and Candelaria invited us to lunch. What beautiful souls. What a delightful experience! Over a scrumptious little summer lunch we learned of one another’s interests in art and writing and became quick friends over the next two years.
The news of Candelaria and Tessil relocating to Charlotte glimmered of future get togethers, lunches and jazz events. And now she’s gone. While our connecting was brief, the memories will linger. I’ll miss her.
May the grace of God continue to bring peace and comfort to Tessil the children, grandchildren, family and friends.
One of the first times I met Candelaria, she invited me to her Roxbury home because she heard I was taking children’s books to schools in South Africa. There I saw the largest and best collection of books by and for Black authors that I had ever seen before and not seen since. What a treasure trove she entrusted to me. And she didn’t stop there, becoming a Black author of children’s stories herself. No half way for Candelaria. She started things – things that I suppose others might not have thought were possible, a film festival, a community center, and she left them to go on to the next project without really taking the glory. We walked together, and Candelaria had advice for every problem I could express. Great advice. Now I will be asking, “What would Candelaria have told me about that?”
Candelaria brought a rare kind of light into every room — intelligent, cultured, delightfully quirky, and genuinely kind. Her love for the arts, learning, and all things eclectic made conversations with her unforgettable. She carried herself with curiosity, grace, and a unique spirit that could never be duplicated.
She will be remembered for the warmth and individuality she shared so freely with others. The world feels less colorful without her in it, but her spirit and influence will continue to inspire all who knew her.
With deepest sympathy and remembrance,
Candace Thompson
My heart is so heavy. Candelaria is missed and always will be. Eileen Logan
Candelaria… a true friend who has given all of us so many moments. So generous of spirit. ..who lived by her willingness to help and inspire us all.
xo
Eileen
Thank you for sharing your light with all of us Candelaria❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful service. Thank you for sharing your light with us, Candelaria.
Thanks all for streaming an excellent service. Those, especially in Boston, really appreciate it. We will miss her and even though it’s better than never, I wish I knew and connected with her before 2014.
What a beautiful service–From Sage’s heart rendering version of Home to Cyrus’s rousingly accurate tribute to his Mom, Candelaria, to her Daughter’s heartfelt call for us to celebrate (!) to Tessil’s utterly true statement of Candelaria and his life together. The Pastor had tough acts to follow but spoke beautifully through the Lord. I am sorry I couldn’t be there in person, but so so glad I was able to witness there here from Boston. Thank you. kelly
Such a light on earth she was, she never forgot a birthday of all my kids. She always sent a book or a whole collection of books. Always a birthday card with some change in it and a message of wisdom and love. She was definitely a 1 of a kind and she lived up to the candle that gave light. After watching this and reflecting on her walk her on earth and how she left her fingerprint, makes me wonder why am I wasting my gift. The takeaway from this beautiful service. If I wanna fly, I better put some stuff down and fly! Job well down faithful servant. Excellent example of how to serve! You will greatly be missed. Thank you for being the Grandie for my son and how you poured into him and that same love transfered over to my other children and how you did it with out complaint or wanting a reward. You loved just because. Crying as I type..I’m done
This was a wonderful healing memorial. Thank you to Candelaria’s family and crew for making it possible to attend online! I love the theme of love never dies. “Epitaph,” the poem by Merrit Malloy that was read, so sums up who Candelaria was and what she would want for us! Thank you for including it. I include it here for those who may have been moved by it also, and those unable to attend today! God bless you all! And all of us! Candelaria would love that!
Sincerely,
Desiree
Epitaph by Merrit Malloy
When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.
Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on in your eyes
And not your mind.
You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands,
By letting bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.
Love doesn’t die,
People do.
So, when all that’s left of me
Is love,
Give me away.