Page created by: William Holshouser

The Rev. Cynthia E. Shoemaker, a minister in the United Church of Christ, beloved mother and grandmother, dedicated friend and community member, educator and mentor, passed away peacefully in her room at Courtyard Nursing Care Center in Medford, MA on April 21st, 2021, surrounded by friends and family.

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Cynthia grew up in the nearby town of Signal Mountain. She attended Girls Preparatory School and City High School in Chattanooga, then went to King College in Bristol, TN. From 1962 – 1979, she was married to (Bill) Holshouser, Jr. Cynthia lived in the Boston area from 1973 until the end of her life. She was a founding member of Common Place, a housing cooperative in Cambridge, MA.

Cynthia held several posts as an assistant minister, with a focus on Christian education. The longest of these was at First Church in Cambridge (Congregational), where she worked for ten years. Other posts included Second Congregational Church in Winchester, MA; Bethany Congregational Church in Foxboro, MA; and Plymouth Church in Framingham, MA. She also worked for a nonprofit organization, Waging Peace, and was active in Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.

She is survived by her daughter Molly Holshouser, son Will Holshouser, granddaughter Anna Holshouser-Belden, and daughter-in-law Kathryn Belden, all of Brooklyn, NY, and two nieces, Lori Shoemaker of Washington, DC and Luci Stone of Hixson, TN.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 23rd, 2022 at 11:00 AM at First Church in Cambridge, MA.