Cynthia D. James

Cynthia Demetria Mckinney was born on May 6, 1958, at Cook County Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois to the late Lonnie L. and Lee Esther McKinney. She was the youngest of three girls, Diane Mckinney and the late Shirley Williams.

Cynthia received her formal education at Yale Elementary School and Catholic School where she first received Christ.
The family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1965. She attended Mark Twain Elementary and other elementary schools, Vanguard Junior High School, where her love for Musical groups The Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers, and the Delfonics, just to name a few developed with a passion She was an avid concertgoer. Also, she loved to dance and was the winner of numerous dance contests at record hops and later in the dance clubs she attended with her cousin and best friend, Michelle King.

In 1976, Cynthia graduated from high school and Sawyer Business College in Westwood, CA with honors. This led to a lucrative career in business administration working for brand name companies and organizations such as the Urban League Training Center; as a trainee in computer applications where she excelled and was promoted regularly. Cynthia settled into her business career and she met, Darryl James in the late year of 1977 and later eloped. They became the proud parents of April James born February 19, 1978, and stayed married for about 5 years and later divorced. A second chance at love came in her marriage to Steven Groves of Columbus, Ohio, on January 22, 1989, and they welcomed the birth of
Brittney Amanda Groves on August 17, 1988. They later gave birth to their only son Steven Groves, on May 15, 1991.

Cynthia was a dedicated wife and mother participating in the Girl Scouts as co-leader in Troop 498, Little League, and various other children’s curricular activities. She also provided ongoing support to her grandchildren, Tyler Troy Tarleton born April 22, 1995, Elgin Artis Griffin II born January 21, 1997, Jaden Germaine Smith born May 3, 2003, Jayla JoAnn Smith born January 10, 2006, Jet Groves born February 26, 2019, Bailee Perry born October 26, 2019, and the
newest addition Alayna Groves born April 7, 2024.

In addition to her immediate family, she leaves to cherish her memories, her aunts and uncles of the Tate family, the late Stanford Tate, Marl & Clodie Tate, Artheree King-Williams, the Late Jaimie Bayon, Verlee & Sidney Ferrell. The cousins she grew up with were Michelle King-Wright, Evelyn Willis, Ronald King, Theodore Hardin, Phillip Brown, and all their children, grandchildren, and a host of family, friends, and relatives throughout the United States.

Cynthia Demetria McKinney will most definitely be missed, always loved, and never forgotten.

Visitation 1:00 PM and Funeral Service 2:00 PM Friday, May 17, 2024 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. (one block east of Noe Bixby, turn North on Lonsdale Rd.).

Interment at Evergreen Burial Park.