Family, friends remember "Pillar" of the community killed in hit-and-run crash
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Family and friends of Sylvia Tiwari describe her as a woman of God, daycare volunteer and "pillar" of the community.
65-year-old Tiwari’s life was cut short when a speeding driver who was running stop signs near 33rd and Walnut struck her vehicle killing her and injuring her daughter on Thursday night.
"It's a lot of disbelief about what happened,” Associate Minister at Amazing Grace Church and Ministries Stanley Knox said. “Pastor Tiwari was a great woman of God. She would give her clothes off her back and to see something like this happen to such a fine woman got us all in a total disbelief."
Knox says he's known Amazing Grace Church and Ministries’ Pastor Sylvia Tiwari for decades and says she will not only be missed by her congregation at the church but by the children at Janet's Kids daycare where she volunteered her time.
"That was a passion of hers,” Knox said. “She loved children. She always had as long as I've known her."
"Great impact in the community,” Minister Eric Allen said. “A lot of kids are going to suffer."
On top of caring for children, Knox says Tiwari was a mentor to youth in the community.
"I've saw [sic] her affect a lot of young ladies lives in the church, Knox said. "Saw their lives turned around."
Allen, who used to attend church with Tiwari, says she was even a big mentor to him.
"Great person to reach out to and talk to at times of need,” Allen said. “Just an ear."
However, Allen says her role in the community went beyond mentoring.
"A lot of people know her as a pastor and a spiritual mother, but for many people, she was honestly their mother,” Allen said. “There is nothing she wouldn't do for anybody."
Friends tell CBS 58 Tiwari's daughter was taken to the hospital and suffered several broken bones.
Milwaukee Police have arrested one person in connection with the fatal hit-and-run, but are still searching for at least two others.
