Cynthia Anne Jordan Epting

Cynthia Anne Jordan Epting, 81, passed away on January 11, 2024 after surgery at St. Francis Hospital in Columbus GA.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, January 26, 2024 in the chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Rev. Jerry Speer officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery following the service.

Cynthia was born in New Orleans, LA on May 10, 1942 to Charles Denny Jordan and Lillian Hope Lefler. Her earliest years were spent in New Orleans and at age four she moved to Dixie Union, GA where she lived with her loving step-mother Alice and her father, Charles D. Jordan. She attended Dixie Union Elementary School and Wacona High School and graduated from Ware County High School in 1960.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her mother Lillian Lefler, her maternal grandmother, Inez Lefler Scullin Lee, her loving step-mother, Alice H. Edwards, and step-father W. K. (Gene) Edwards as well as her paternal grandparents, Crawley and Roxie Jordan, of Dixie Union GA; her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Epting Adams, of Columbia, SC and other uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Cynthia is survived by her husband Kerry Epting, her two children, Stephanie Washington (Eric) of Bluffton, SC and Kelly Epting (Andrea) of Savannah, GA; her three grandchildren, Slade Dye, Greyson and Maddie Epting, and one great-grandson, Warner Dye. She is also survived by her two siblings, Roger J. Sundy (Neomia) and her sister, Joan A. Jordan, all three of Stone Mountain, GA. She has many adoring cousins and one niece, Cheryl Sundy Brown (Tom). She is also survived by one brother-in-law, Scott Epting of Columbia, SC and other cousins, great nieces, and special friends Michele, Vicki, and Glinda.

In 1960, Cynthia enrolled in Berry College in Rome GA and graduated with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education in 1964. It was there, at Berry College, that she met the “love of her life”, Kerry Epting. Their relationship bloomed and they married in June of 1966. They were blessed with their first child, Stephanie Marie (Eric) before Kerry graduated in 1967 and before they moved to Columbus, GA.

Cynthia and Kerry both taught school in the Muscogee County School System; she at River Road Elementary School and Kerry at Daniel Junior High School. While teaching and living in Columbus, in 1975, their second child, Kelly Lamar Epting (Andrea) was born. After 40 years of teaching, they retired; Cynthia in 2003 and Kerry in 2006.

Through her teaching, she earned the love and affection of hundreds of students, parents, and co-workers alike. After leaving her class, many students returned to visit her well into their adult years. When visiting in her class, many signed her “former students’ autograph” book that she always had available and that she cherished as her memory book. Many of her students requested that their children and/or grandchildren have her for a teacher at River Road School.

Cynthia was honored with a wonderful retirement gift of a deluxe grill, a celebration and party hosted by the W. C. Bradley Company, the school’s Partner in Education. The River Road Faculty and Staff celebrated Cynthia’s retirement with a reception and a retirement gift which was a weekend in Memphis TN to visit her favorite celebrity’s home, Graceland. She was truly a dedicated teacher who loved her family, her students, Elvis, General Hospital, Longaberger baskets, Aflac ducks, Precious Moments, and her cat, Tink!

Many former students and co-workers continued to connect with Cynthia by phone, social media, and personal visits. Almost every time she and Kerry went out shopping or for doctor appointments etc., she would see one or more of her former students who would make it a point to say hello to Mrs. Epting!

Cynthia was a wonderful teacher, a dedicated wife and mother, a trusted friend and companion and a very special sister and daughter. She was an outstanding role model who gave freely of her love and affection. She loved and respected her students and this certainly endeared her to them. She will be sincerely and truly missed by her family and all who knew her. She leaves a great legacy which we will all cherish.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to a charity of one’s choice.