Cynthia Susan Summers

Cynthia Susan Summers (Buie), 76, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025. She was born on January 7, 1949, in Oak Park, Illinois, to William Buie (U.S. Navy veteran) and Sylvia (Meyer) Buie, who nurtured her creative and caring spirit from a young age. Cynthia grew up in the Chicago suburbs alongside her siblings Michael (Mickey) Buie (U.S.Army veteran), Wanda Buie Sellers, Linda Buie Marsh, and Betsy Buie Dokken.

She graduated from Proviso East High School and later attended Business College before beginning a career as an Executive Assistant with IBM and other telecommunications companies.

At age 19, Cynthia married her high school sweetheart, William Wayne Summers (U.S.Marine Corps veteran), and took great pride in sewing her own beautiful wedding gown. She began her family in Broadview, Illinois, where she devoted herself to raising her children.

Over the years, she and her family made homes in Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Ft. Walton Beach before finally settling in Tallahassee, where she built a vibrant and fulfilling life.

Cynthia was a passionate artist whose creativity shone through her soft sculptures, sewing, stitching, and other handmade crafts. She was a loyal member of the Nimble Fingers sewing group at the Tallahassee Senior Center, where her artistry and friendship touched many.

Her talent was recognized through numerous award-winning entries at the North Florida Fair, a source of joy and pride.

Faith was an essential part of Cynthia’s life. She attended church faithfully throughout her years and was a longtime member of the City Church Tallahassee congregation.

She loved music, sang in choirs, and filled her home with warmth, laughter, and the scent of her famous baked goods. Every Christmas, she shared her love through the handmade ornaments she crafted—treasures that her family, friends, and neighbors will continue to cherish. Her homemade fudge and cookies were a gift that her grandchildren looked forward to each Christmas morning, a sweet tradition that will live on in their hearts.

Cynthia’s greatest joy came from her family. She is survived by her children Kristi Lyn Walker (David), Angela Mary Summers (Jason Craig), and Phillip Jacob Summers (Heather Donovan Summers); her former daughter-in-law Kirstan Pedrick Summers; her grandchildren Kristin Ha’ukeria Houkuru Walker, Danielle Eliza Lake (Sgt. Benjamin Edward Lake, U.S. Army), Jacob Douglas Walker, Macy Adlai Craig, Audrey Mariah Craig, Summer Reese Craig, Savannah Rae Craig, Gavin Matthew Craig, SA Phillip Ethan Summers, U.S. Coast Guard, and Marina Spencer Summers; and her great-grandchildren Jaime Eli Lake, Sawyer Evelyn Lake, Beau Ezra Lake, Charlotte Eva Lake, and Zander Wayne Craig. She is also survived by her three sisters, as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Cynthia shared her late teenage and early adult years with her former husband, William Wayne Summers, with whom she maintained a warm and caring friendship throughout her life.

Cynthia was one of a kind—a woman with a heart of gold, a radiant spirit, and a unique sense of style that brought light to everyone she met. Her remarkable positivity, her ability to overcome adversity with grace, her extraordinary capacity for forgiveness, and her endless gratitude defined her life. She was deeply loved by her three devoted children, adored by her grandchildren, and admired by all who knew her.

Cynthia left this world in the same way she lived her exceptional life—with remarkable grace, a strong sense of humor, and surrounded by her family. Her two devoted daughters were by her side and gently guided her through her passing while her favorite gospel hymns played softly in the background. With the incredible promptness for which she was well known, at the stroke of midnight on October 30, she gently stepped off this platform with angelic beauty and boarded the train that will carry her on her next extraordinary journey.

Her memory will live on in the love she gave, the art she created, and the countless lives she touched.

In lieu of flowers, her children request that donations be made to the Tallahassee Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at

https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=PU2Q5GJR9CGT8