Cynthia Marie Caruthers

Cynthia Marie Smith Caruthers was born on July 25, 1950 in Washington, D.C. She was the youngest child of Mack Vernal Smith and Lucy Marie Waddy Smith, and baby sister to Gloria, Rebecca (Becky), and Robert (Bobby). Growing up D.C., Cynthia attended Monroe Elementary School, Banneker Junior High School, and Cardozo High School. While D.C. was her home, and a proud city girl she was, she enjoyed spending many Memorial and Labor Day Holidays at her grandparents’ home in Rankin, Pennsylvania and many weekends and Thanksgivings in Hanover County, Virginia at her father’s country home.

After graduating from Cardozo in 1968, Cynthia went on to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She received an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from The University of the District of Columbia and became a Registered Nurse.  She would later go on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Missouri-Kansas City. She initially worked Pediatrics at D.C. General Hospital followed by several years on Labor and Delivery at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. It was there that a very handsome and charming young doctor couldn’t help but notice Cynthia’s beauty and brains. His name was Bertram “Buzzy” Caruthers, Jr and they got married on campus at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel on January 28, 1978. Cynthia moved to Buzzy’s hometown of Kansas City, Kansas and it was there that they raised their children, Camille, Dana, Stefanie, Cherie and Bertram III.

In Kansas City, Cynthia helped Buzzy in the early days of his practice and served many roles in that capacity, from nurse, to office secretary, to billing specialist, to office manager.  After several years of managing two offices, Cynthia figured it was time to branch out and find something new. After working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, she decided to try her hand at school nursing. With summers and all major holidays off, it was a pretty easy decision. She worked for the Turner School district at Pierson Junior High School and later Kansas City, Kansas Public schools at Mark Twain Elementary and Northwest Middle School. She retired from KCK Public Schools in 2014.

Cynthia was a devoted member of Strangers Rest Baptist Church where she served on the Health Ministry.  In 2011 she joined the Pierian Club of Kansas City, Kansas, one of the first African American Literary Clubs in the area. She was a longtime member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., holding various positions on the executive board and serving as chairperson over several committees.  She was also a proud member of The Kansas Citians and loved going out to eat with The Lunch Bunch.

Cynthia enjoyed traveling.  Attending the annual Waddy-Fleming-Duke family reunion was very important to her.  Even though she was all the way in Kansas, she rarely missed an opportunity to reconnect with family so that her children could see the faces, hear the stories and feel the history of where they come from. She enjoyed many family vacations in the summer for the annual NMA Convention and trips with her church travel group.  She loved a good party and a glass of wine and never missed an opportunity to have fun with their friends at “The Alpha Party”, “The Class Party” or The Holiday Friends.

Cynthia leaves behind to cherish her memories, her husband of over 47 years Bertram Caruthers, Jr; her children Camille (Cliff) Hodrick, Dana (Will) Combs, Stefanie Caruthers, Cherie (Matt) Suther, and Bertram (Diorlena) Caruthers III; Grandchildren Bryce and Justin Hodrick, Ramica Westbrook and Sheri Combs, Austin Caruthers-Scott, Matthew and Mason Suther, and Bertram Nasir Caruthers IV (Nas); her brother Robert Smith; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Mack and Lucy Marie Smith, sisters Gloria Rush and Rebecca Smith, her Brother-in-law Carlton Rush, and her nephews Daryl Rush and Steven Smith.

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