Cindy Marie (Smith) Rayburn

Cindy Marie Smith Rayburn, age 64, of the Finley Community, passed away July 6, 2022 in Gulfport, MS.  Cindy was born on July 31, 1957 in Texas City, Texas to parents Billy Wayne, Sr. and Doris Elaine (Murff) Smith.  She attended D’Iberville High School and after graduation worked for BellSouth. Cindy would later enter the field of wealth management where she worked in brokerage support for over 30 years.  During that time, she worked for a few companies including, AG Edwards, Merryl Lynch, Salomon Smith Barney, and Edward Jones.

Cindy enjoyed live music, reading, dancing, cooking, and loved lively banter with family and friends. Above all, she adored spending time with her grandchildren, as “Mimi” was undoubtedly her lifetime’s favorite role.  Her smile and accompanying laughter would light up any room and her outlook on life was always positive.  We believe that her perpetual optimism was closely aligned with her physical resilience, because Cindy beat the odds when it came to cancer’s call- more than once.  Her strength and determination went unmatched. She was perhaps the New Orleans Saints’ greatest fan! Her eldest child put it best, “She was an amazing mother; always the first to listen to any problem you had, UNLESS the Saints were playing and she always spoke with an air of grace and civility, UNLESS the Saints were playing the Falcons.”

Cindy’s laugh and warm smile will be missed immensely by all who knew and loved her. Preceding her in death were her parents, Bill and Elaine Smith; and her sister Sheleen Golden. She is survived by the love of her life and husband of 47 years, Tim Rayburn Sr.; two sons Tim (Cynthia) Rayburn of Albuquerque, NM and Jeff (Tara) Rayburn of Goose Creek, SC; her grandchildren Allie and Kaleb; one sister Cheryl (Dale) Farmer of Gulfport; and her brother Billy (Ginger) Smith, Jr. of Decatur, TX.  Cindy leaves behind a legacy of numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, as well as her close friends.

Services for Cindy will be held Monday, July 11, 2022, at Trinity Funeral Services in McHenry, beginning with a short visitation for extended family and friends at 12:30 followed by a funeral service at 1:00 pm officiated by Bro. Scotty Rayburn.  Cindy will be laid to rest at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport immediately following her service. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to assist the Rayburn family during this time and would ask that you remember Tim, their boys and the rest of her family in your thoughts and prayers in the days to come.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate in her honor to the National Breast Cancer Foundation or the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance to advance cancer research and assist families in similar situations; the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation (P.O. Box 99. Perkinston, MS 39573) for local student scholarships; or another favorite charity or homeless shelter of your choice.

Pallbearers for Cindy’s service are Ronnie Pietz, Dale Farmer, Carter Tapp, Keith Lock, Perry Murff, Mike Broulard, Hal Kibler, and Christopher Southern.