Cynthia "Cindy" Yvonne Lewis

She was born on February 20, 1954, in the state of Kansas, where she graduated from Sumner High School, class of 1973, and later earned an Associate of Arts degree at Johnson County Community College.

After leaving Kansas she made her home on the east coast and settled in Washington, D.C., where she graduated with a bachelor’s in Science at the University of Gallaudet. She would later end up working at the very university she once attended before making a career at the Department of Education. During that time, she spent many years living in Maryland before making Fredericksburg, VA her new home.

Cynthia is viewed by her children as the bravest and strongest woman they’ve ever known, who was a fighter that conquered many obstacles in life, one being deaf, which she embraced and didn’t view as a disability. She was a proud member of the deaf community and at any opportunity would share her knowledge of sign language with those interested, which she also passed onto her two children (Jacob and Jessica).

She had a lifelong love for music and felt the sounds in ways many people don’t. Her favorite song growing up was “Blue Moon” which she would sing in front of her siblings, performing with a broom as her microphone. She also had a love for cooking, sewing, decorating, mini figurines, and her rambunctious cheers while viewing football will be sorely missed.

Anyone that met her loved her personality, and even during tough times her infectious smile managed to put a grin on everyone’s face.

She was preceded in death by Mary Collins, her mother.

She is survived by her son, Jacob Lewis; daughter, Jessica Brooks; grandchildren, Shuermain Lewis, Jaylen Lewis, Xavier Lewis, Zoey Lewis, Chloe Lewis, and Tristan Lewis. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Leon (Kevin) K. Lewis, Linda Burns, Mark (Buster) Cherry, and Lorrell (Coco) Triplett, and numerous family members in Kansas.