Cindy Ross

Services celebrating the life of Mrs. Cindy Ross will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home with Dr. Carl White officiating. Interment will follow at Christopher Chapel Cemetery in Jachin, AL.

Cynthia “Cindy” Ann Ross, age 60, of Meridian went to her heavenly home on November 10, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her passing.

Cindy Kelley was born on June 29, 1963, in Winnemucca, NV, where her dad was stationed in the Air Force. At age four, Cindy moved with her family to Pennington, AL, where she grew up and graduated from Marengo Academy in 1981. Cindy played the piano and the flute in the high school band and passed on the importance of and love for music to her children. Cindy graduated from The University of Alabama in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was a lifelong Alabama fan and could always be found watching Alabama football on TV or in person on Saturdays in the fall.

Cindy worked as an accountant in Atlanta and Birmingham before moving to Meridian and marrying the love of her life, Jim, in 1994. They were the proud parents of three daughters, Kelli, Mackenzie, and Morgan, whom Cindy described as her “greatest accomplishments.” Supporting her daughters and grandson in their various endeavors, including piano recitals, sports, theater, pageants, and more, brought her immense joy. After moving to Meridian, she worked as the controller for Woodall Electric before “retiring” in 2005 to homeschool her two younger daughters. She continued to use her meticulous organization and accounting skills through volunteer roles and part-time work after her youngest daughter went to college.

A faith-filled woman with a true servant’s heart, Cindy constantly gave of her time, talent, and treasure to help others. Over the years, she volunteered in numerous capacities, including Meridian Youth Soccer Organization (coach), NCFCA Speech & Debate (judge and tabulator), Merrehope (treasurer), Meridian Little Theatre Youth Division (committee member), Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi (host family, scholarship chair, program book committee, and regional director), and North Lauderdale Water Association (secretary/treasurer) to name a few. She was a member of Highland Baptist Church where, in recent years, she served with the Children’s Choir and Finance Committee. A self-described “busy person,” Cindy was always doing something. Her favorite hobbies included hosting family and friends, playing games with family, painting, gardening, traveling, touring homes, and browsing interior design books.

Her family remembers Cindy as truly extraordinary; she was kind, selfless, independent, generous, humble, loving, strong, brilliant, and a “good Nana.” She was the rock of the family and took care of everything for everybody - not because people always needed her help but because she genuinely wanted to help make everyone else’s lives easier. She did so much without recognition, and her support of organizations and people often went undocumented.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Jim Ross; three daughters, Kelli Street (Jeremy) of Nashville, TN, Mackenzie Goldman (Alex) of Nashville, TN, and Morgan Reed (Garrett) of Huntsville, AL; grandson, Gavin Moffett; parents, Robert and Mary Ann Kelley; brother, David Kelley (Dixie) of Midland, MI; and aunts, uncle, nieces, nephew, cousins, and in-laws.

Cindy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Elmore and Mary C. Moody, E.M. “Bud” Kelley, and Mae and Jack Etheridge.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made as donations to the Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 582, Meridian, MS 39302; or Venmo: @DYW_MS).

Pallbearers will be grandson, Gavin Moffett; son-in-laws, Jeremy Street, Alex Goldman, and Garrett Reed; cousins, Kenny Kelley, Tim Kelley, and Tony Grice; and brother-in-law, John Clay Roberts.

The family will receive guests Tuesday, November 14, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.