Cynthia Smithers

Cynthia “Cindy” Joan Mills Smithers, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully in the presence of her husband, daughter, brother, and pseudo sister at the age of 82 in Greenville, SC on March 19, 2025.

Cindy was born on November 17, 1942 in Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Dominican High School in 1960 where she played basketball and participated in many extra-curricular clubs. She briefly attended the University of Dayton, ultimately receiving a BA in Journalism from University of South Carolina in 1967. There she met her life-long best friend Judy Parker Huitt and future spouse Charles “Chuck” Joseph Smithers, Jr. whom she married on September 22, 1968.

In addition to being a caring wife, Cindy was a devoted mother to her only child, Tamara “Tammy” Maria Smithers (Phillip Brown). As an exceptionally kind and thoughtful person, she never failed to express her adoration for and dedication to her family and friends. As a teacher and foster care & adoptions social worker, Cindy worked tirelessly to make a real difference in children’s lives. Her positive impact included helping the houseless and assisting to feed and spay/neuter stray cats.

Over the course of her life, she loved many pet cats: Tammy, Greeble, Tassy, Rainbow, OJ, Carrara, Scala, Mammy, and Beau Beau. She also enjoyed antiquing, entertaining friends and guests at home, her book club Rogue Readers, taking classes at Ollie, shopping for clothes (and purses), watching Jeopardy with her husband Chuck, and traveling with her daughter Tammy. Cindy is survived by Chuck and Tammy, as well as her sibling Stephen “Steve” Dwight Mills, Jr. (Caroline Hetherton) and her nephew Matthew “Matt” Mills. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Stephen Dwight and Janet Zahn Mills.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 27 at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park from 6 to 8pm. Mass service in Cindy’s honor will be held on Friday March 28 at 12pm at Prince of Peace Catholic Church followed by a brief reception on site in Parish House/Croghan Hall to celebrate her life, which will include a few songs performed by Steve, Caroline, and Matt. Burial rites will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park at 3pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Cindy’s memory to Concerned Citizens for Animals of Greenville https://ccaweb.org/donate or SC Pet Haven https://www.scpethaven.org/how-to-help/