Cynthia Viola Stephens

Cynthia Viola Stephens, dearly known as Aunt Cynthia was born May 3, 1930 to Frances Foster in Tangle River, St. James, Jamaica.

Aunt Cynthia was a woman of faith whose strength stemmed from the example she found in the strong nature of her grandmother, Caroline Foster, and quiet loving spirit of her grandfather, Josiah Foster, whom raised her. Cynthia developed a profession in domestic service and elder nursing care while in Jamaica and served many locals and ranked foreign royals. It was her honesty and thorough care for others that gave her a reputation worthy of admire by training nurses and hospital staff. Cynthia later migrated to the United States and began employment at Howard University Hospital until retirement. She continued in home elder care for many years to follow. This servitude spirit also led Cynthia to open her home to host students and missionaries alike and to care for and adopt her late sister’s daughter at the age of 50. Age for her did not deter her from raising the baby, starting with what mattered most.

Cynthia and her family presented the baby Caroline to Maranatha Gospel Hall, her home church, as a child to be raised by a village of believers. Maranatha and the elders and saints of Maranatha were family to Cynthia and here Cynthia faithfully served the Lord through Biblical studies, prayer meetings, sisters fellowship, sandwich making for the homeless, meals for various events, gifts for children abroad, back to school supplies for children and a pleathers of service projects she was a part of. It is through this example of service and love for others that she lived. It was through love she ensured the spiritual upbringing of her grandson Jonathan and with love welcomed son-in-law, Billy and grandchildren Cailly and Jacob. In her final years, though her memory declined, she held on to her faith in God, calling on him until her last words “Lord Have Mercy on my Way.” Caring for Aunt Cynthia in the last years of her life was one of the purest and most humbling experiences Caroline, Billy and grandchildren Jonathan, Cailly and Jacob will take with them, watching God’s faithful servant love the Lord her God and care for others until her final breath at home on January 18, 2024.

We give thanks for her life well lived and rest with the knowledge that Aunt Cynthia is in the presence of the Lord with her brother Howard, sisters Utilda, Olga and Winnifred, nephew Cedril, nieces Marlene and Jean and good friends that have past on. As as we wait on the return of our Savior, we give thanks for each other and as great grandfather Josiah would say, “Come, my Jesus Come, Thank you My Jesus Thank You.”

A visitation for Cynthia will be held Friday, January 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM at Marantha Gospel Hall, 4910 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011.

A celebration of life will occur Friday, January 26, 2024 at 9:30 AM, 4910 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011.

A burial will occur Friday, January 26, 2024 at 11:30 AM at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD 20722.