Ms. Cynthia Elaine Joel was born on September 6, 1956, in Forsyth County to Helen Eugenia Robinson and the late Hayward McIntyre. She departed this life on November 7, 2023.

In her early years, she was educated through the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system, graduating from Parkland High School in 1974. She went on to attend Durham Business College (DBC) where she earned an associate degree in Executive Secretarial Science. While attending DBC, she became a sister of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority. Later, she went on to earn a B.S. in Business Administration from Salem College. While employed by Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), she also earned her MBA from WSSU. Because of her passion for education, she also later became certified in tutoring by North Carolina State University.

She held several positions at WSSU before retiring as the Manager of Tutorial Services in University College and Lifelong Learning (UCaLL) in 2020. She then continued to stay active and gained employment through Experiment in Self Reliance (ESR) as an Eligibility Specialist, working closely with the community. Because of her love for people and their well-being, everyone she helped received a gift of love. Recently, she worked with a community church to have pillows hand-sewn that she would give out to each of her clients. She was also currently serving as the secretary of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC), District 16. She believed in operating in excellence! She took great pride in all that she did.

Cynthia was a devoted mother who bragged about her daughters often. She enjoyed spending a great deal of time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, playing word/brain games, calligraphy, and entertaining family and friends. She also maintained a relationship with her "Salem Sisters". Along with her siblings, she was always concerned with providing quality care for her mother and she always surprised her mom with gifts.

She lived her life for the Lord, always sharing inspirational words with anyone who would listen. She loved being a member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. The ministry brought her so much joy.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Fernando Gaillard.

Her loving memories will forever remain in the hearts of her mother, Helen Eugenia Robinson of Winston-Salem; her children, Kristle Gathings and Angelica Gathings; her grandchildren, Karrington Gathings and Kamden Gathings; four great-grandsons, Kaeson Gathings, Karson Gathings, Kader Gathings, and Kaiser Gathings; three sisters, Angela Gaillard of Colorado, Vanessa (Lamont) Fletcher of Winston-Salem, and Sharon Robinson of Winston-Salem; one aunt, Mary Joel Jester; nephews, Isaiah Fletcher, Rashad Gaillard, and Fernando Gaillard, II; niece, Letitia Gaillard; and a host of cousins, aunts, and special friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Friday, November 17, 2023 at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Nathan Scovens officiating. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12:00noon on Friday at the Church. Graveside services will be held at 11:00am Monday, November 20, 2023 in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.