Cynthia L Mottern

Cynthia Lou Mottern 1951 - 2026

Cynthia “Cindy” (Perro) Mottern, 75, of Augusta, Georgia, passed away on July 12, 2026, in Augusta, GA.

Cindy was born on April 1, 1951, at Fort Lawton in Seattle, Washington, to Leo Archibald McCollum Perro and Alice Alivina Little. She spent her early childhood in Seattle. Following her parents’ divorce, Cindy moved with her mother and brother to Southern California.

Cindy married Thomas Cloy “Tom” Mottern on July 23, 1971, in Torrance, California. A loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Cindy shared more than 58 years with Tom. Together, they built a life centered on love, family, and devotion to one another.

Cindy grew up in Seattle, Washington. Following her parents’ divorce, she moved with her mother and brother to Southern California. She married Thomas Cloy “Tom” Mottern on July 23, 1971, in Torrance, California. A loving and devoted wife for 55 years, Cindy shared more than 58 years with Tom, building a life centered on family, love, and devotion to one another. After their marriage, Cindy and Tom moved to Sprankle Mills, Pennsylvania. Following the birth of their daughter, they returned to Southern California, settling first in Anaheim, where they welcomed two sons, and later in Orange, California. In 1980, the family moved to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Cindy returned to school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In the late 1980s, the family moved to O’Fallon, Missouri, where Cindy worked as a family counselor in a rehabilitation program. Through her work, she helped young people struggling with addiction and supported families during some of their most difficult moments. Her career reflected her compassion, patience, and commitment to helping others. After retiring, Cindy and Tom moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and later to Augusta, Georgia. Cindy was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was deeply committed to preserving her family’s history. She worked to keep the stories of those who came before her alive and to give a voice to those whose lives might otherwise have been forgotten. She will be remembered for her loving and generous spirit and her unwavering commitment to family and friends. Cindy always had an ear to listen and a place at her table for everyone in her life. She made people feel welcomed, cared for, and included, and her warmth touched all who knew her. Cindy is survived by her devoted husband, Tom, and their three children: daughter Angeleque Shumway Killingsworth and her husband, Dave, of Woodbridge, Virginia; son Edward Mottern and his wife, JulieAnn, of Greenwood, South Carolina; and son Aaron Mottern and his wife, Jamie, of St. Louis, Missouri. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Kyra and Andrea Shumway of Colorado; Ashley Shumway of Texas; and Alex and Anna Mottern of South Carolina. Cindy also leaves behind her brother, Steven Bridges of South Dakota; her nieces and a nephew, Crissy Rodriguez and her husband, Claude, of New Jersey, Johanna Flores and her husband, Gabe, of Arkansas, Jennifer Bridges of New York, and Joshua Bridges of New York; as well as a grandniece and several grandnephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Leo A Perro; her mother, Alice (Little) Bridges; and her brother, James Jay Perro. Cindy’s legacy lives on in the family she loved, the friends she welcomed, the young people and families she helped, and the history she worked so faithfully to preserve.

A private family viewing will be held. A separate celebration of Cindy’s life will be a later date.

Cindy’s family invites those who knew and loved her to remember her generous spirit, her devotion to family and friends, and the welcoming place she created for everyone in her life.