Cynthia Lee Stuart's Obituary
On Thursday January 23, 1947 in the small town of Itta Bena, Mississippi, Cythia Lee Purnell was born. She was the oldest of 3 children to parents Jessie Lou and Al Thomas. Cynthia She attended Leflore County Training School, then attended and graduated Amanda Elzy High School. Cynthia continued her education at Mississippi Valley State University. After a couple years at MVSU, she transferred to Jackson State University. While attending JSU she became a Finer Woman of the Lambda Beta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta. Cynthia graduated from JSU with a degree in Biology and English. Shortly after graduating she moved to San Diego, CA.
Cynthia moved to San Diego to chase her dreams and stay close to her cousin, Edna Mae Tolliver who she viewed as a sister. Cynthia began working at Pacific Bell Telephone Company and worked her way up into a high ranking position. She loved her work and was very talented at all that she did. After a few years of settling in, Cynthia met the love of her life and married Archie Stuart. Cynthia and Archie had a loving family of three children; Angela Stuart, Joseph Purnell and Fredrick Stuart.
Family meant the world to Cynthia, and she valued her family and the relationships she had with each of her family members. After moving so far from her roots, she still had a few relatives close, but always made sure to return to Mississippi to visit and pay her respects to all the people she loved. Spending time with her children and going on adventures with her family were some of the most talked about and cherished times of her life.
Aside from family, Cynthia loved to dive into creating and running new business. She took on many business ventures with her husband Archie, as well as with her kids. One of the most successful businesses being a Mechanic shop that she and her husband ran for many years, on top of her work at Pacific Bell. Cynthia truly believed in maximizing her time on Earth and did as much as she could to enjoy life and experience new things.
There is nothing that topped her love of family, except for her love for the Lord. She was raised in the church and held on to her faith for her entire life. Cynthia had no fear of failure because she knew that the Lord kept her and always made a way for her. She instilled her love of the Lord into all of her children and grandchildren. After her early retirement from Pacific Bell, she went on to seminary school and obtained her Masters in Theology.
In her years of retirement she enjoyed traveling, spreading the word of the Lord, raising her grandchild, Rachel Purnell, and writing plays. She was a teacher, a leader, and a mother to those in need. She loved to give and nurture anybody who came to her. She never worried about herself for she had the strength of the Lord and knew that he would always keep her. Her homeless ministry was something she faithfully worked at each month, as well as her work with Interfaith Prayer Fellowship. Her legacy of selflessness and compassion will forever be remembered.
Cynthia Stuart was preceded in death by her grandmother Wardean Purnell, mother and father, Jessie Lou & Al Thomas, sister Jimmie Sue Sinclair (Thomas), husband Archie Stuart, and cousin Edna Cogburn (Tolliver). She is survived by younger brother: Al Willy; children, Joseph Purnell, Fredrick Stuart, Angela Stuart; grandchildren: Rachel Purnell, Nicholas, Nathaniel and Noah Stuart; great-grandchildren, Davion Porter; and a plethora of great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and family friends
What’s your fondest memory of Cynthia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Cynthia?
Share a story where Cynthia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Cynthia you’ll never forget.
How did Cynthia make you smile?
