Cindy Rhodes

Cynthia “Cindy” Dorothy Rhodes, age 50, won her fight against cancer as she gained her heavenly wings late in the evening Monday, August 30, 2021, at her residence.

She was a devoted, loving mother of three children and a dedicated teacher at West Fannin Elementary in Blue Ridge. Born to Mickey and Alean Roper February 23, 1971, in Madison, Georgia. Cindy was raised in Nantahala, North Carolina, and considered the mountains her beloved home. Throughout her childhood Cindy attended Bethel Hill Baptist and Briartown Baptist churches regularly with her family and sang with her sister, Libby, in neighboring churches and revival services. Following a revival service at the age of 9, Cindy gave her life to the Lord as her personal Savior in her family living room, praying with Momma and Daddy.

After graduating from high school, Cindy returned home from college to be the bakery manager and cake decorator at the local Ingles in Andrews, North Carolina. In October 1994, Cindy married her first husband and father of her first two children, AJ Schnuphase, making their home in Andrews and later Nantahala. After a few years, Cindy took a merchandiser job working for HC Brill Company. While working as a merchandiser at the age of 26, Cindy had her first child, Jacklyn, who was the sparkle and light of her world.

Soon, Cindy found working as a merchandiser over the Southeast was only keeping her away from her husband and little girl, so she returned to Ingles as a district bakery merchandiser, where she could manage both her career and family. As she was about to turn 30, she had her first baby boy, Devin. Never knowing she could begin to love two individuals so much, her world was consumed by picnics, beach trips, T-ball games, fishing and work.

After divorcing her first husband in the Spring of 2003, Cindy met her late husband, Harold Rhodes, and they began to build their lives and family in Blue Ridge. Cindy began pursuing her degree to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. Cindy managed being a full-time student at Western Carolina University (WCU), working as a merchandiser at Ingles, Inc., and fulfilling her duties as wife and mother.

In October of 2005, Cindy had her third child, Brandon. Cindy, Harold and their three kids continued enjoying life with day-to-day tasks, vacation trips and family outings.

Since 2010, Cindy has been a widow and single parent to her three children. She graduated from WCU with her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2012 making her dreams come true. Cindy began her career as a teacher assistant at West Fannin in 2014, then moving to the teacher role in 2015 at Ranger Elementary in North Carolina only to return to West Fannin a year later as a classroom teacher. The students who entered her classroom on a daily basis gave Cindy an extra reason to keep setting goals and accomplishing life dreams.

In 2014, Cindy reunited with her high school love, Dennis, who has stood by her ever since and went on Cindy’s daily adventures. Since her diagnosis of cancer in 2018, Cindy has returned to the classroom several times as a way to keep her determination and motivation strong. Cindy always said, “Working with kids, you have to stay strong and steadfast ‘cause they need everyone around them to love them.” Her love for teaching and her goal of returning to the classroom as well as her three children have kept her focused and determined to fight her illness.

Cindy enjoyed spending her time with her kids, watching them in school activities, cooking and baking, playing with her puppies (Oreo and Tank), and talking to her special little nephew, Chuck, who she spoiled as much as she could – calling just to ask him what he was doing, only to hear him say, “Aunt Cinni, right now I’m talking to you! What are you doing? I sure do love and miss you!”

Along with her husband Harold, Cindy is preceded in death by her father, Mickey C. Roper of Nantahala; one brother, Charles “Chuck” Mickey Roper of Nantahala; paternal grandparents, Frank and Mae Roper of Nantahala; and maternal grandparents, Edgar and Dorothy Shleton of Suches.

Surviving are her fiancé, Dennis Cochran, of Nantahala; her mother, Alean Roper of Nantahala; her children, Jacklyn Schnuphase, Devin Schnuphase and Brandon Rhodes of the home in Blue Ridge, and Chloe Hensley of Ellijay, Georgia; her siblings, Terry (John) Clark of Franklin, North Carolina, Libby (Stanley) Gibson, of Marble, North Carolina and Mike (Catherine) Roper of Murphy, North Carolina; her nieces and nephews, Zachary Solis, Katiana Solis, Jacob Clark, Andrew Clark, Michaela Roper, Chuck Gibson, Greyson Schnuphase, Melanie Schnuphase and Anthony Schnuphase; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were in the Akins Funeral Home Chapel in Blue Ridge, Sunday, September 5, 2021, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Bryan Hensley officiating. Music was provided by Chloe Hensley, Sonny Richard and Dot Wilson.

Interment followed in the Barnes Chapel Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers, Devin Schnuphase, Brandon Rhodes, Dennis Cochran, Stanley Gibson, Mike Roper, Eli Young and Scott Ramsey. Honorary pallbearers were Andrew John Schnuphase, John Clark, Jacob Clark, Andrew Clark, Eric Schnuphase, Paco Solis, Zachary Solis, Burton Cochran, Kieth Cochran, Matt Cox, Tim Garland and William Schnuphase.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.

Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements.