Cynthia Heath's Obituary
Cynthia Renae Heath was born on August 23, 1959 to Leroy Q. Heath, Sr. and Lillie M. Davis in Chicago Illinois. In addition to Cynthia a son, Leroy Q. Heath, Jr. was born to this marriage. Cynthia was the oldest of nine siblings. She went home to be the Lord on June 19, 2013Cynthia was born and raised in Chicago but had numerous opportunities to leave her kind and generous spirit in many places. Everyone who has ever come in contact with Cynthia has experienced her “GENTLE” spirit. She touched hearts and lives wherever she went. She shared quiet words of wisdom with anyone willing to listen, and poured out her love and tireless support to anyone in need. She was truly an “Angel of the Lord”.Cynthia was an avid learner, she received her elementary education at Ralph J. Bunch Elementary School and she graduated from Visitation High School 1977. Cynthia received the following degrees: a B.A. in Psychology from Chicago State University; a B.S. in Occupational Therapy from Chicago State University; a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from St. Xavier State University and a MBA from St. Xavier State University. In 1999 Cynthia received her license as a Registered Occupational Therapist. She has earned many professional certificates and honors most recently an O.C.T. Certification in 2011.Cynthia prided herself in molding lives and she was able to accomplish this in both her professional and personal life. As a Professor in occupational therapy at Chicago State University she shared her gifts with young people. Cynthia facilitated the weekly prayer ministry for Kingdom Church International even after leaving Chicago where it is headquartered. While a member of the Shekinah Chapel Cynthia was a faithful member of the singles ministry, the steward’s ministry, as well as serving on the church Council and as Church Secretary. In 2012 she became a member of Hope Presbyterian Church. She worked diligently wherever she was needed (singles’ ministry, women’s ministry, Intercessory Prayer, etc.) Additionally, she worked with the Memphis Grizzlies’ mentoring program. Cynthia had a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord and worked tirelessly for God; there is not enough paper or time to list all of her accomplishments and lives that she touched.Cynthia, who was often referred to as “Gentle1” or “Mama Cynthia” touched the lives of friends and family alike. She had such a kind and generous heart, she never met a stranger. To her nieces and nephews she was “Auntie Na Na”, the one they could depend on for a kind word, a big hug, and a great meal. She was Nanna to her “pride and joy” to her grandchildren. But everyone called her friend.Cynthia united in marriage with Michael Smith and to this union a daughter, LaShawndria, was born. Later Cynthia united in marriage with Lorenzo Baldwin and to this union a son was born, Jonathan.Cynthia leaves to cherish her memory her mother Lillie Greene, her father and mother LeRoy Q. and Mildred Heath Sr.; her daughter, LaShawndria Merrell; her son, Jonathan Baldwin; her four brothers, LeRoy Q. Heath, Jr. (Dawn), Kalind Haynes Sr. (Kaita,) Robert Wright and Romero Eric Greene; her four sisters Cheryl Jones (William), Vivian Hill (Jenon), Lectric Chandler (Tyrone) and Heather Sherman (Sheldon); her Godmother Joan Ordonez; her grandchildren: Kristian, Jenae, Miahri, Niyah, Keziah and Malachi; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, her Hope Church family and a host of other family and friends.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”.
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