A native south Texan and the eighth of ten children, Sylia Garcia attended Texas Woman's University on scholarship and graduated with a degree in social work. She later attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, where she earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence. Her professional career began in public service with the City of Houston as a social worker, and shortly afterwards, served as Director and Presiding Judge of the Houston Municipal System. She was later elected to City Comptroller, and later in 2002, to the Harris County Commissioner's Court.  She has been actively involved in the Houston community, serving on more than 25 community boards and commissions.