The person Cindy was to become was apparent even in grade school. Poised, confident and popular, she was the girl that everyone wanted to know and without whose presence a birthday party could never really be called an "event". (Fortunately, I had an in. Our parents were friends and she had to come to my parties). Even then one knew instinctively that this girl was going places.

The Britt household in those days was always filled with laughter and love. Cindy absolutely doted on her little brother "Robbie" and later baby sister Patti. Cindy and Lori were best buds and spent many hours in each other's company, playing Barbie and house together. Later they attained what was at the time the ultimate in junior high school coolness, their own private phone line (appropriately, the number was 443-KISS) - which the girls used to make late-night,under-the-covers phone calls, keeping a watchful ear for the telltale creak-creak of Bob's footsteps in the hall.

You never knew what was going to happen in that house back then. I remember many a dish-time water fight which would break out spontaneously and escalate to all out wars- with Shari all the while doing her best to pretend to be abhorred at such goings on. The ultimate water fight however was the time Bob dragged the garden hose into the house, drenching the combatants, along with the kitchen floor. Gary recalls one winter when a water ski refinishing party took place in the living room, complete with sanding.

She grew up next door to her grandparents. She was the one who named them Mamaw and Popeye, endearments which have stuck to this day. Mamaw Flowers taught Cindy to cook and sew, pastimes which brought Cindy so much joy throughout her life. Many of Cindy's fondest childhood memories were of Christmas mornings spent at Mamaw and Bampaw Britt's. Cindy was raised surrounded by the kind of extended family that we would wish for all children. She grew up happy and self confident and never forgot the primary importance of family.

Cindy, Lori, Rob and Patti spent most of their summers at the lake with Bob and Shari. Anyone who saw her on a ski, with her long legs and her graceful stance, remembers her as poetry in motion. Summer romances, barbecues at the Salt Creek Lodge- Cindy's childhood was filled with fun and the love that comes from a close-knit family.

Her high school years were a blurr of activity. Cindy always loved to learn and according to Gary, her school work was more important to her than phone calls from her boyfriend. She maintained an A average but lest you think she was a bookworm, she was also a candidate for Homecoming Queen and later for the Rhododendron Festival queen. She dreamed of becoming an architect and anyone who has seen her beautiful home that she designed herself would have to agree that she would have been a good one. After all, anyone who knew Cindy knows she could do anything she put her mind to.

High school was also where she met the man who would become her lifelong soulmate and friend. Or should I say was chosen. For as the story goes, Gary had gained access to the ninth grade yearbook so he could survey the incoming crop of sophomore girls. From only that yearbook picture, Gary picked Cindy to pursue. Evidently the ploy worked and on June 14th, 1975 Cindy changed her name from Britt to Blanc. They created a blend that was nearly ideal. Gary says:

"She was the ultimate partner. She was always by my side. For work problems, life problems, driving her four boys through the woods hunting or even filling in as the extra outfielder for a family batting practice. She did it all."

Gary continues,

"She was matter of fact about what she wanted in life and would do anything to acheive her goals. She was loving, caring and always put other people's wants and needs ahead of her own. She was the inspiration of my life. I will miss her terribly but know we will be together again. My only consolation is knowing that she is at last free of pain and enjoying a new life once again."

Gary's parents, Antoinette and Emile adopted Cindy as the daughter they never had. Gary recalls that Cindy had more clout with his family than he did. Cindy and Antoinette loved to cook, can and shop together and spent many hours in each other's company. Antoinette was also Cindy's back-up mom when the busy Blanc household schedule became too much for even Cindy to manage.

In the early years of their marriage, she not only ran and maintained the household but also worked a full time job and went to school at night. Later, school gave way to kids but a full time career persisted. Finally when CJ was born, she was able to do full time the thing she did the very best - being a mom and making a home.

As a homemaker, Cindy put even Martha Stewart to shame. She loved to garden, sew and cook and to do all those things that turn a house into a home. The birthday parties she gave were world famous, complete with her beautifully hand decorated theme cakes she designed. To say she was merely organized would be a understatement. Before Cindy and Gary were married, she had laid in a years supply of staples, bought in bulk against an unforeseen up-tick in the market price of flour and sugar.

After Gary and Cindy were married, Cindy remained close to her Mom and Dad and brother and sisters. She looked forward to the shopping trip the girls of the family would take each year. It was a time for catching up and having fun exploring the sights and sounds of a new city.

But the center of Cindy's heart was the family she and Gary built together. Matt, Brian and C.J. were blessed with a mom who always put them first and foremost. The boys in turn adored her. She worked tirelessly to try and give her kids the same wonderful childhood Shari and Bob had given her. Even near the end, when Cindy knew that time was precious, she remained selflessly devoted to her family. She arranged her treatment schedules around baseball games, sometimes attending games in so much pain that she couldn't sit in the bleachers - watching instead from her van parked down the right field line. In her final days, she had the boys' football schedules at her bedside as a constant incentive to try and stay with us long enough to see a few games.

Cindy's generous spirit seemed to reach people somewhere deep inside. When she became ill, the way in which her friends rallied to her side made it clear that Cindy's selfless devotion to others had touched so many hearts. Anyone who saw the tender way Bobbi, Barbara, Brenda, Sharon and a multitude of others cared for Cindy could plainly see the love they had for her. Cindy saw it too and it meant so much to her.

Her close friends were not, however the only ones she touched. The courage with which she faced her adversity inspired melanoma patients literally around the world. We invite you to read some of their messages of condolence on the collage that Cindy's sister Patti has prepared.

So today while we share our sorrow, let's not forget to celebrate a life well-lived, a life filled with the joys of a loving family, and with friends who held fast through the good times and the bad. A life of courage, a life of grace, a life devoted to the happiness of others.

She was the woman all parents hope their daughters grow to be - and the selfless person to which all of us should aspire. Her sweet, giving spirit in turn touched each of us and the courage and determination at the end inspired all who knew her to try and become all that we can be, and to spend the precious time we each are granted on those things that are important. And one thing for sure about Cindy, she always knew what was important.

-Jeff Patterson August 16, 1997