Birthplace: San Nicolaas, Aruba

Father: Bennett Augustine William

Mother: Mayana Mason William

Occupation: Educator

“Go be with our dear Aunty May and Uncle Ben…”

Cynthia Margaret Pinks-Futrell

June 21, 1945-April 10, 2022

Cynthia Margaret Pinks-Futrell (née William) was born on June 21, 1945, to Bennett (Uncle Ben) William and Mayana (Aunty May) William in San Nicolaas, Aruba. She was the third and final child born to that union and the only daughter. At the age of 12, she returned to her ancestral home in Grenada with her parents and brother, Matthew William, while her oldest brother, Byron remained to continue building his life in Aruba.

She was an honors student at St. Joseph's Convent in Grenville, Grenada who enjoyed sharing her talents in drama and singing. In 1967, she married Patrick Louison and they settled into married life in Nassau, Bahamas where their three children were born—Gerard, Christopher Sr., and Patricia. In 1978, the family moved to Brooklyn, NY to pursue new opportunities. In 1984, Cynthia was remarried to Oliver Pinks, Jr. until his untimely death. Subsequently, she found love again through church ministry activities and married Waverly Futrell, Jr. in 1993. She was once again widowed in 1998 and did not remarry.

Professionally, she accomplished much, but many will remember her most for the sly wit and easy smile. If you knew our Mother, her laugh and desire to enjoy life were an ever-present feature of her day. She loved being a Mum, valued her family, and adored being a Grandmother to Christopher Jr. (29), Emmanuel (29), Jolie (24), Miles (21), Idris (10), and Iriselle (6) Louison.

As a young mother, she was a Secretary, a Bookkeeper, later a Plumber, an Electrician, a serial entrepreneur, and for 20 years an NYC School Teacher. She was featured in a New York Daily News article about her breaking barriers by learning to be a plumber and an electrician in New York City. It was a joy to watch her in action as a schoolteacher in Brooklyn. She loved her students in the Crown Heights/East New York areas. They were all her kids, and she poured love into them in the classroom and wherever she saw them. Upon her retirement, she received a Brooklyn Borough Presidential citation from, now New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, for 20 years of exemplary service and dedication to educating young minds.

She was an excellent educator who embraced lifelong learning, earning her Associate's (1997), Bachelor's (2000), and Master's (2003) degrees from the ages of 52 to 58. She talked fervently of returning for a doctoral degree, but life intervened.

Four years ago, her life trajectory changed to shorter than any one of us would like due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. We are sharing this personal bit of information to support others who have suffered such a loss and those about to.

On April 10, 2022, she left this earth to go be with the Lord, as an ever-faithful Child of God. Cynthia Margaret Pinks-Futrell is with the Ancestors, especially Aunty May and Uncle Ben, and her older brother Byron. She was predeceased by her parents, Bennett and Mayana William, brother, Byron William, nephew, Garnet William, many aunts and uncles, and spouses: Patrick Louison, Oliver Pinks, Jr., and Waverly Futrell, Jr. She leaves her brother, Matthew, sister-in-law, Morfydd, sister-in-law, Betty,  sister-in-law, Pauline, three children: Gerard, Christopher Sr., and Patricia, 10 stepchildren, six grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and several nieces and nephews to mourn her memory.

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