“Madame Sylla is our dear sister, she is our dear colleague, as you can see exemplified by all the people that love her here,” said Dora Kennedy French Immersion (DKFI) principal, James Spence, at a vigil and canvassing event at Schrom Hills Park on Friday. The park was the last-known destination of Mariame Toure Sylla, who didn’t return from her walk on the evening of Saturday, July 29 (see the August 3 GNR issue). “We want to see her back, healthy and ready to continue to inspire our generation of French immersion learners,” said Spence.
DKFI teachers and staff members started looking for their colleague on day one, said Spence. “In the first hours we were getting texts that they were going to go out and search these parks and so I’m just extremely proud to be a part of the school,” he said. Spence expressed his and his staff’s appreciation for the number of people that came out to acknowledge and support. “It does not go lightly for me and the staff,” he said, appreciative of the community’s efforts. “Thank you to the News Review for doing a really powerful piece and helping to get the news out.”
John Enoh, who teaches at DKFI, said he arrived at the school in 2007, one year after Sylla, when the school was still Robert Goddard French Immersion. Enoh has been Sylla’s colleague for 16 of the 17 years she’s been at the school. Sylla’s now-adult son, who until recently was living in another state, would call to talk with Enoh regularly, he said. “He’s the one that called me to tell me, ‘My mom disappeared,’” said Enoh. According to Sylla’s colleague she left at 6 p.m. for her usual walk, and when she hadn’t returned by 9 p.m., her son tried to reach her by phone but it went straight to voicemail. Enoh said Sylla’s son went to the park to look for her when he couldn’t reach her by phone and met people who said they hadn’t seen her. He then went to the nearby Safeway in case she’d gone there and, not finding her, called an aunt, Dougo Nana Sidibe, who was interviewed by the News Review in last week’s issue. Sidibe then called the police.
“It really hit home when I came here and saw all the teachers looking devastated,” said John Appiah-Duffell, parent of a child at DKFI and a regular volunteer at the school. “We’ll keep praying for the situation,” said Spence, “and especially for you all that have known her a lot longer than I have. I know it’s heavy. I know it’s heavy.” Parfait Awono, who was principal of the school from 2016 to 2019, was also among the crowd. Sylla was planning to retire in a couple of years and was looking forward to retiring to the Ivory Coast in Africa, where she had a home she’d shared pictures of with her colleagues. “She was getting ready for next year,” said Spence. “She was talking about the things she wanted to do from an academic standpoint.” He said it would be hard to believe she’d disappear of her own volition “because she was so ready to start the year off.”
Taz McCoy Wilson, one of the organizers of the vigil, with her s ;Taz McCoy Wilson, one of the organizers of the vigil, with her son, a Dora Kennedy studentPolice Chief Richard Bowers was present along with other Greenbelt police officers. Speaking at the gathering, he said the missing person investigation is still ongoing. In response to questions, he wouldn’t comment on what Sylla did and didn’t have with her when she headed out for a walk, but he did confirm that “her usual routine would have brought her home prior to sunset.”
Greenbelt City Councilmember Ric Gordon spoke to the gathering, calling on people to have faith in God. “If something happens to one of us it happens to all of us,” he said.
“This hits all of us,” said Donna Christy, president of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association, who offered support and connections to other educators in Maryland and Virginia. “Our 10,000 are all out there putting positive energy out into the universe to bring her home, praying and thinking, and sending every thought. Keeping their eyes wide open, spreading the word, our 10,000 are all out there willing Madame Sylla to return to us. We’re here and they stand ready if there’s a location that the police say needs to be searched, we’re ready to organize and do that.” Theresa Mitchell, vice president of the Maryland State Education Association, attended and offered support, as did Alonzo Washington, Maryland State Senator for District 22, who was among the crowd. Grief and crisis counselors were also present at the vigil.
A large group of volunteers, including teachers and Sylla’s students, canvassed the neighborhood surrounding the park and outside Safeway before regrouping at Schrom Hills. As candles were lit the crowd sang Amazing Grace. Jodi-Ann Price, a parent at the school and one of the organizers of the event, led a prayer, after which the imam from Sylla’s mosque led a prayer to Allah for protection and peace. The gathering closed with words on behalf of Sylla’s family and her family in Africa. They expressed their thanks for the heartwarming support and for prayers from all denominations. “This is testament to how wonderful she is and we love her very much. We are really close to her and we miss her very much,” said a close friend of Sylla, who is in contact with her family. Former and current students, including young elementary students, shared stories of Sylla’s kindness and teaching. “Madame Sylla was a good teacher – is a good teacher,” said one young boy. “I know she’s going to come back soon,” said another. The French immersion community is like a family, said one parent, especially if you have multiple children go through the school. Taz McCoy Wilson, a parent and organizer of the event asked people to “treat this personally, because it is personal.” “We need her back to her family, we need her back to her friends, we need her back for these children and we need her back safely for herself,” said Wilson. Price led a final call and response with the crowd: “We are one.” “We are loved.” “She is ours.” “And blessed.”
Anyone who comes into contact with Sylla or has information is asked to contact Detective Davis at 240-542-2134, ddavis@greenbeltmd.gov, or the Greenbelt Police Department at 301-474-7200.