Cynthia Maria Diggs

Cynthia Maria Diggs was born on December 16, 1954, at DC General Hospital in Washington, DC, to Lillie and Alfred Diggs. A loving mother, sister, friend, and woman of faith, Cynthia filled her life with laughter, love, and unforgettable memories.

Cynthia attended Maryland Park Junior High School and later Central High School. Growing up, she enjoyed double dutch, jacks, hopscotch, riding bicycles, and playing with paper dolls. She and her sisters and friends spent evenings watching movies at the park now known as Malcolm X Park, where the boys sometimes threw grass at them! Summers at her grandmother's house brought more adventures, including being chased by a dog on the way to the store.

One of Cynthia's favorite childhood games was sitting along the roadside with her siblings, pretending the next passing car belonged to one of them. When a fancy car appeared, someone would proudly shout, "Look at my superbad car!" But if a raggedy one came along, everyone laughed and teased, "That's your car!"

Her mother had one important rule: be home before the streetlights came on! One night, Cynthia and her big sister Belinda tried sneaking into the house, unaware their father had set a trap with pots and pans. When they were caught, he laughed and said he'd deal with them in the morning. Belinda lost her key, and Cynthia wasn't allowed to go out with her big sister anymore!

As Cynthia grew older, faith and family remained central to her life. She attended Mt. Ennon Baptist Church and Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir and served as an usher.

Hardworking and determined, Cynthia sometimes held three jobs to support her family. She brought her cheerful spirit and gift for connection to retail and hardware stores before finding her true passion as a teacher and daycare provider, earning certifications in daycare and teaching instruction.

Cynthia loved caring for children, but her greatest joy was motherhood. She often said God put her on this earth to have children. Of everything she accomplished, she was especially proud that all ten of her children graduated from high school.

She also treasured Christmas celebrations at her mother's house and later carried on those joyful gatherings with her own children.

Anyone who knew Cynthia knew she loved to laugh! She was always joking, singing, playing around, or affectionately touching someone's face. Generous and caring, she was quick to help others. She also loved animals, collecting turtles and caring for everything from cats and dogs to frogs, rabbits, birds, and guinea pigs. She enjoyed fishing and catching little creatures at Costa Park.

Cynthia earned a blue belt and trophies in taekwondo and loved basketball, including playing one- on-one with her daughter Toya. She cheered for the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers and enjoyed attending her children's sporting events. Gospel music and Johnny Gill were among her favorites.

Above all, Cynthia believed in building a loving family that always had one another's backs. A fighter who never gave up, she taught her children to do what's right, accept responsibility, and stand on their own two feet. She encouraged others to keep going, no matter how difficult life became.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents, Lillie and Alfred Diggs, and her brother-in-law, Luis Gyles. She leaves to cherish her memory her siblings, Wayne Diggs, Preston (Brenda) Diggs, and Belinda Diggs; her ten children, Andre Parran, Kowanna Parran, LeVar Weeks, LaTonya Diggs, LaToya Diggs, Robert Diggs, Kevin Diggs, Antoine Diggs, LaTosha Diggs, and Devale Diggs; 26 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

Cynthia's laughter, strength, generosity, and love will live on through the family she built and the lessons she leaves behind. Her legacy is a family that stands together, looks out for one another, and never gives up.