Our beloved Cynthia Ann Cottingham, of Cleveland, OH, went home to glory on Monday, August 6, 2024.

Cynthia leaves behind the legacy of being an unconventional rule-breaker whose life provided examples of how to overcome. One such example was Cynthia recognizing academia’s challenges, but she did not give up on her education and returned to school to receive her diploma at 29. And during a time when the world told women to make a marriage last no matter the personal cost, Cynthia bravely walked against the social norm not once, or twice, but three times, which earned her the nickname in love “Elizabeth Taylor.”

In life, Cynthia had no problem saying what she thought of an individual or circumstance. And for as cutting as she could be, Cynthia was equally as loving and made sure to spoil you with gifts, like crocheted blankets which she made for family, friends, and the children at Freedom Chapel. She helped where she could and donated money to various organizations to share with her aide. Additionally, Cynthia was sure to find a way to make life a good time by sharing her love of watching movies, crocheting, getting on the floor to teach you how to play Pick-up Sticks, or shoot marbles, and using all the colors in the Crayola box.

Most importantly, Cynthia, a woman devoted to her family, passed on meaningful life lessons that met you where you were on life’s path. For the children, she taught them how to count to one hundred, the alphabet, and no matter the age, she made sure you knew how to take care of yourself in a world that could cause harm.

Cynthia’s life also taught that with courage you can be successful in this world no matter your age. It was not until her mid-thirties that Cynthia obtained a career in hospitality, working at Case Western Reserve cleaning dorms for more than twenty years before retiring. However, Cynthia’s most valued lesson, which impacted not only her family, but the students she tended to, and one she taught till the day of her death, was the value of having a clean house, and not wearing yourself out while doing the work.

Though Cynthia Ann Cottingham lived an unconventional rule-breaking life, her love, devotion,life lessons, and bits of quirkiness shall be cherished forever.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her loving parents Dave and Marguerite Cottingham, sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Robert Marable, niece and nephews Robert Marable, Veronica Cottingham, and Printess Winston.

Left to cherish her memory, Margurite Sims (daughter), Reginald Sims Jr.(grandson), and devoted, loving granddaughter, Clarissa “Missy” Joy (Avonta) of Memphis, TN, and great-grandson Benny Rosado. Siblings, David Cottingham (Mary Lou) of Morgantown, WV; Wilma Mathew (Van) of Cleveland, OH; Dellmon Winston (Printess) of Fairmont, WV;

Frederick Cottingham of Toledo, OH; Evelyn Keene (Bruce); special friends Constance Cottingham and Sandra Blanchard; a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and loved ones.