Cynthia Ann Cargile McMeans, age 70, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 24, 2023, surrounded by family in Foley, Alabama.
Cynthia was born in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Westlawn Elementary, Sidney Phillips Junior High School, and Murphy High School where she was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa sorority. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. Cynthia went on to earn her Juris Doctor at the University of Alabama School of Law. She practiced law in Mobile with the firm Brown, Hudgens, Richardson and later opened her practice in Gulf Shores and Daphne. She obtained her Master of Education degree from the University of South Alabama and taught at Daphne High School before retiring.
Cynthia had an insatiable appetite for books, politics, history, and genealogy. She was both a student and a teacher throughout her life. She was a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady, an avid University of Alabama football fan (Roll Tide), enjoyed humor, and was especially quick-witted. Cynthia was active in her retirement through involvement in numerous associations and organizations helping to effect change for causes that she cared deeply about and researching family genealogy. She loved spending time with friends and family and was so proud to share the accomplishments of her grandchildren.
Cynthia was the daughter of Ann Turner Cargile (1924-2019) and Charles Jackson Cargile, Jr. (1919-1991) and was the wife of Eugene Bare McMeans (1927-2009). Cynthia is survived by her son, Braswell T. McMeans (Tara); grandchildren, Brittany Naden (Zachary) and Braswell M. McMeans; sisters, Priscilla Cargile McDonald, Jacqueline Cargile Jones, and Karen Cargile Kelly (Michael); nieces Elizabeth and Leann Kelly; and nephews Pat McDonald (Brittany), Chris Freeman (Cyndi), John Freeman, and Jeff Freeman (Catherine); and grandnieces and grandnephews Brooks McDonald, Rylan McDonald, Daniel Showers, Kendall Doughtery, Harlow Freeman, and Daisy Ann Freeman; and her family by marriage (Eugene McMeans) children Susan McMeans, Ann McMeans (Bob Bendick), Charlie McMeans (Pam); grandchildren, Nathan Forrest, Sarah Forrest, Kenneth Lee Crow (Sai), Clayton Isherwood (Meagan), Robert Green, Leigh McMeans, Eric McMeans, Kyle McMeans; great-grandchildren Tyler Crow, Evan Crow, Admiral Eugene Crow, Tana Magee, Hunter Magee, Declan Isherwood, and many other family members and friends including Martha Howard who was like a sister to her.
Cynthia also left behind her kitty, Holly, who misses her terribly and is patiently awaiting her return home while putting up with her replacement caretakers.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to celebrate the life of Cynthia McMeans on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, at 12:00 pm, at 14798 Hwy 180, Gulf Shores, AL. at a private residence overlooking Little Lagoon. For more information and to RSVP please visit CynthiaMcMeans.com
Cynthia will be interred at the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort where she will join her husband Eugene McMeans, a Navy veteran who fought in World War II during the invasion of Okinawa.
Memorial donations may be made to the Cynthia McMeans Memorial Scholarship through the South Baldwin Education Foundation. Payments can be mailed to PO Box 1600, Foley, AL. 36536 (Please note Cynthia McMeans in the payment memo), or online at CynthiaMcMeans.com
