Cindy departed this world on January 23, 2023, after a short illness leaving behind her beloved mother, who sadly passed away a few days later. This page was started by her fellow peer supporter co-facilitators of Support Groups Central and Hey Peers to honor and remember her. Cindy was a Navy Hospital Corpsman veteran. She facilitated DBSA groups and the veteran’s group on the Hey Peers platform. She entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 18 and was assigned to the San Diego Navy Hospital. Cindy took all of the opportunities available to further her education, including attaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and becoming a registered nurse. She also graduated from the Columbia Veterans Affairs Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center and received the Navy Achievement Award. As a civilian, she obtained her Peer Support Certification in South Carolina. She was certified in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid, QPR, As+K and completed the Smart Recovery and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills training. Cindy participated in the Veterans Recovery Support Group and the South Carolina Peer Support for Peer Support group. She also attended the Project Echo Peer Recovery Support Specialists program and the Neurolinguistics for Certified Peer Support Specialist training. In addition to caring for her mother, she volunteered with Soldiers Angels food distribution program.
Cindy was hired by Support Groups Central/Hey Peers on December 9, 2022, after being referred by employee and friend Luanne Vinson. The fact that she made such a lasting impact on all of us in such a short period of time speaks volumes about her ability to connect with others. She co-facilitated three groups per week and led the DBSA veterans group every Friday afternoon. She was dependable, a quick learner, and cared deeply for those who attended the groups she facilitated as well as for her co-facilitators. We thought of her as a motherly type who could always be counted on. As her co-workers and her friends, we could think of no better way to honor her than to ask for donations to support the programs she loved to facilitate. Donations to DBSA made below, in Cindy’s memory, will help fund projects including our Veteran Strength support groups.
