Date of Death March 18, 2026
Richenda Kelly (Cindy) Straus, 99, of Columbus, Georgia died at her Spring Harbor home in Columbus, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 after living a full, active, and Christian life.
Funeral services will be held at Noon on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at Grace Presbyterian Church ECO with Rev. Charles R. Hasty, Jr. officiating. A family graveside interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 AM- Noon at the fellowship hall of Grace Presbyterian Church. Her grandsons and great- grandsons will serve as Pallbearers.
Cindy was born September 19, 1926 in Ashford, AL and was the daughter of the late Richard Edward and Winnie Davis Knight Kelly. She was reared in Dothan, AL and attended public schools there. After her family moved to Columbus in late 1940, she attended and was graduated from Jordan High School in January 1944.
She was predeceased by her loving husband of nearly 41 years, Jack Bernard Straus, Sr. who died on July 3, 1993. They were married September 12, 1952 at the First Baptist Church in Columbus. Also predeceasing her were her sister Janie Kelly Baer (Russ) and niece Winnie Anne Drost, both of Augusta, GA, brother and sister-in-law Richard Eugene (R.E.) and Betty Kelly, and brother Gary Knight Kelly and sister-in-law Evelyn Redmond Kelly all of Columbus.
Cindy attended Truman- Smith Business College and later worked for Edward W. Swift, Jr. as his private secretary and as Executive Secretary for E.W. Swift & Co. for seven years. Cindy continued her education throughout her adult life at then Columbus College, focusing on her special interests- music and art appreciation, genealogy, bridge, and finance and investing. Both Cindy and Jack shared a love of Broadway musicals and classical music, especially opera and symphony, and attended performances in Atlanta and New York while enjoying their favorite restaurants. Her favorite composer was Puccini. They both loved taking their family to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL every summer and continued their visits there with children and grandchildren for nearly 40 years. Especially memorable to her was taking her sons and daughters-in-law and her eight grandchildren on a one-week Disney cruise to the Caribbean. Whenever able, she loved keeping, caring for, and entertaining her grandchildren and attending their numerous events.
Cindy was a member of the First Baptist Church in Columbus for 53 years, having sung in the choir for many years, later joining St. Paul United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Miller-Wilson Sunday School Class. Other than her love for music, her hobbies included genealogy, reading, needlepoint, tennis, bridge, crossword puzzles, and watching Turner Classic Movies in her later years. She enjoyed reading poetry, biographies, and especially Agatha Christie mysteries. She was an enthusiastic tennis player from childhood through adult life and played in a regular weekly group for many years. She was always ready and eager to watch her sons and grandchildren play their tennis matches, whether locally or at out-of-town tournaments- often driving their friends along as well to tournaments throughout the state. Cindy especially enjoyed accompanying her son Dickie to Wimbledon
to see The Championships, while also getting the opportunity to meet her husband’s special World War II friend in London. She also thoroughly enjoyed accompanying her son Jack on several sales trips to New York for his business, taking on an active sales role at some shows by interacting and making strong connections with retail customers while writing multiple orders for the business.
She enjoyed her work with the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary, serving on the board for several years and as a buyer for the gift shop for many years. She volunteered countless hours with the Auxiliary and served in numerous other areas in the hospital. She worked as a volunteer with The Girls Club in its formative years by teaching sewing and drama. She also served as an officer in several genealogical societies, and she and her mother enjoyed field trips tracing family history throughout The South. Cindy assisted a cousin in Texas and helped her compile a book on their mutual ancestors having said that “We are the ancestors for future generations, as are our children, and I feel we should leave them a goodly and Godly heritage.”
Her former club and civic affiliations included The Country Club of Columbus, Ivy Garden Club, Golden Girls Investment Club, Oglethorpe Chapter NSDAR, Major Peter Fields Chapter of Colonial Danes XVII Century, Huguenot Society of South Carolina Charleston, Georgia Chapter and National Society of Magna Carta Dames, Columbus Museum Guild, Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus Symphony Guild, Linwood Cemetery Foundation, The Wynn House, and several bridge Clubs- her favorite being The Friday Night Club! Cindy was truly an unforgettable character, and any encounter with her, be it from long ago or in the recent past, will never be forgotten!
Cindy is survived by her two sons: Jack Bernard Straus, Jr. (Karen) of Frisco, TX, and Dr. Richard Kelly Straus, Sr. (Julie) of Columbus, GA. She is also survived by eight grandchildren; Nathan Richard Straus (Karin) of Grand Prairie, TX, Joel David Straus of Coppell, TX, and Daniel Edward Straus (Afton) of Frisco, TX and Richard Kelly Straus, Jr. (Rachel) of Columbus, Virginia Anne Straus (Jess) of Atlanta, Grace Helen Straus of Los Angeles, Charles Bernard Straus of Cape Girardeau, MO and Minna Louise Straus of Columbus, GA and eleven great-grandchildren; Lydia May, Marina Lily, and Opal Juliet Straus, all of Grand Prairie, TX, and Elijah James, Phoebe Ruth, and Simon Ezekiel Straus of Frisco, TX, and Sawyer Kelly, William Charles, and Lucille Anne Straus of Columbus, and George Owen and Remington Smith Straus of Atlanta. Finally, she is survived by two nieces, Karen Elaine Kelly of Columbus, GA and Peg Duke of Huntsville, AL, four nephews: Charles Robert Gay and David Long of Sacramento, CA, William J. Stein of Kalamazoo, MI, and Timothy Michael Kelly of Columbus, and numerous cousins and friends in Alabama and Georgia.
Her family wishes to express thanks to the wonderful and caring staff from Skilled Nursing at Spring Harbor.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 4747, Columbus, GA 31914 (gracechurchcolumbus.org) or to Pioneer Bible Translators, P.O. Box 380820, Duncanville, TX 75138-0820 (pioneerbible.org).
