Cynthia Guthrie Smith

January 1, 2025

Cynthia Guthrie Smith passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025, from complications of pneumonia. Sinde or Momma Rizzo, as she is known to all, was known for her sass, wit, kindness, grace, compassion, and love for God, family, and friends.

Sinde was born on July 21,1954, in Florala, Alabama to Charles Warren and Alice Marie Guthrie. The family, along with her brother David, later relocated to Lynn Haven, Florida where Sinde’s youngest siblings, Ken and Cathi, made their arrival over the next several years. Sinde went on to meet the love of her life, David, in Norfolk, Virginia in 1974. These two fell in love immediately and never looked back. Their love was the epitome of unwavering. Until her last breath, David was beside his “brown eyed girl” letting her know that the two would be reunited one day. David served in the U.S. Navy and thus, Sinde and David moved various places over the years. In July of 1975, Sinde and David welcomed their first daughter, Jessica in Panama City, FL. In September of 1977, in Pensacola, FL they welcomed their second daughter, Jacquelyn. Sinde spent the rest of her life being the best mother imaginable to her daughters. She was the room mom, the team mom, at every function, and even as her daughters grew, she was always there for them in every capacity.

In October of 1997, Sinde got the title she was made for, Nana, when Brianna was born. Sinde spent her days helping to be the best role model she could be for her. Many years later in November of 2005, she became a Nana again to Meredith. Always present and always showing them the way to be the best versions of themselves, her spirit will live on in her “baby” girls as she always called them.

Over the years, Sinde made countless friendships with various other U.S. Navy wives in many different cities where they were stationed. In 1989, Sinde and David and their girls moved to Milton, Florida to their forever home. During this time, Sinde became a Manager of the Deli at Winn Dixie for 30 years where she met numerous friends, many of whom became as close as family. After retirement from Winn Dixie, Sinde decided to work part time at Crain Supply with her daughter and her husband where she took so much pride and love in her job.

Sinde is preceded in death by her father, Charles; mother, Marie; great grandparents, Wilburn and Fannie Fleming; and niece, Nikki Smith.

She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, David; her daughters, Jessica Smith and Jacquelyn (Brian) Johnston; granddaughters, Brianna Smith and Meredith Johnston; step-grandsons, Andrew (Kayli) Johnston, Tyler Johnston, and Hunter Johnston; brothers, David (Sandra) Guthrie and Ken Guthrie; sister, Cathi (Kelly) Guthrie; brother-in-law, Terry Smith; one step great granddaughter; two step great grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The pallbearers will be David Smith, Brian Johnston, Becky Guthrie, Myles Guthrie, Andrew Johnston, Hunter Johnston, and Preston Moore.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Lewis Funeral Home Milton Chapel, 6405 Highway 90 W, Milton Florida 32570, with visitation from 10:30-11:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Elizabeth Chapel in Chumuckla, Florida.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly request that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital – a charity near and dear to Sinde’s heart.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under General, Obituaries