Cynthia Ann Chaffin

Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Chaffin, 73, of Hudson, Florida, entered glory peacefully on October 10, 2026, with her family by her side. Cindy was born on May 19, 1953, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and was adopted and raised by Paris and Stella Barnett in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Cindy was extremely grateful to be adopted by Paris and Stella and was raised in a kind and loving home. As a young girl, she gave her life to Christ, and her faith guided her for the rest of her life. Cindy had a beloved horse and would explore her town with her best friend, Pat Cline. Cindy also enjoyed cheerleading in her teen years.

After graduating high school, Cindy surrendered her life to the ministry and attended Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida. While at Bible college, she met her husband, David Chaffin, and together they became the first married couple at the college. Cindy had her first child, Christina, while still a student and went on to earn her bachelor's degree in teaching. Upon graduation, Cindy and David entered the ministry. The family moved briefly to Ocala and served at Bible Baptist Church for two years, where Mark, their second child, was born. In 1982, the Lord moved the family to Marshall, Texas, where Cindy supported David as he became the pastor of Bell Street Baptist Church. Cindy and David would joke that everything is bigger in Texas, including their family. They welcomed four more children while living in Texas: Elizabeth, Deborah, John, and Rebecca. In 1992, the family of eight returned to Ocala, Florida, where Cindy served as pastor's wife and pianist for 24 years at Ocala Baptist Temple. Over the years, Cindy taught her children and continued her education, receiving her Master of Education degree in 2011. Cynthia worked as a hairstylist and teacher for many years while serving faithfully alongside her husband as a pastor's wife.

While in college, Cindy met a missionary who ministered in Cuba. The Lord used the missionary to reunite Cindy with her birth family. Cindy was connected with her sister, Genoveva Hernandez, who had recently come to the United States and was living in Miami. From that day on, the two sisters built a deep and loving bond and became very close. Years later, Genoveva helped bring Cindy together with other members of her biological family, including another sister, Inocencia Ona, creating a wonderful reunion with her biological family.

Cindy loved life and lived it to the fullest. She especially loved spending time with her family and would travel to see her children and grandchildren across the country. She had a green thumb and could take any plant from a cutting and grow it into a beautiful plant. She also enjoyed playing the trumpet at church, and in her senior years she was an avid pickleballer.

Cindy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, David Chaffin, in 2017, and by her parents, Paris and Stella Barnett.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her children: Christina Houghton (Chad) of Hudson, FL; Mark Chaffin (Laurie) of Prineville, OR; Elizabeth Vasseur (Jeff) of Sammamish, WA; Deborah Bratten (Randy) of Brooksville, FL; John Chaffin (Joanna) of Gainesville, FL; and Rebecca Lovelace (Brandon) of Fayetteville, NC; her 13 grandchildren: Morgan Scott, Mason Houghton, Weston Chaffin, Evelyn Vasseur, Everett Vasseur, Boone Bratten, Bear Bratten, Brave Bratten, Paris Chaffin, Graciella Chaffin, David Chaffin, Bowie Lovelace, and Remington Lovelace; her mother-in-law, Bonnie Ioffredo; her sisters, Genoveva Hernandez (Onelio) of Hialeah, FL, and Inocencia Ona; her brother-in-law, Marvin Chaffin (Cindy), and their children, Melissa Simmer (Tim) and Christopher Chaffin; her sister-in-law, Sondra Curtis (Tony), and their children, Jennifer Riley (Mark) and Anthony Curtis (Tiffany); her niece and nephew, Cristina and Oneil Hernandez; as well as the Barnett family and her extended biological family, and many other loving family members and friends.

Her life verse is Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." We rejoice in her life and celebrate in the hope of reunion in glory for the believer.

A private graveside service will be held for the family at 10 a.m. at Highlands Memorial Gardens in Ocala, followed by a celebratory homegoing service at 2 p.m. at Gainesville Baptist Church on Saturday, October 31. For more information, call Countryside Funeral Home at 352-620-2006 or visit https://www.countrysidefunerals.com/