Cecilia Rawlins

With a heavy heart, we announce Cecilia Elizabeth Rawlins's passing. Cecilia passed away peacefully at her home in Asheville, North Carolina, on August 2, 2024, at the age of 69, with her life partner, Dave Penrose, by her side.
Cecilia lived to the fullest and embraced Life's challenges with grace and dignity. Even in her final years, she remained as sharp as ever and lived exceptionally courageously as she battled Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare disease related to Parkinson's. Cecilia was a woman of strength and determination who did not let this disease define her. She surpassed all medical predictions and fought on for many years. Even in the depths of her illness, she never lost her wicked sense of humor and her zest for Life or missed a visit with her family and friends, and of course, she never missed her beloved manicure appointments.
Cecilia was born on February 21, 1955, in Rocky Mount, NC. Her family relocated to Wheeling, WV, in 1969, where she graduated with honors from Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy and met her lifelong friends, The Mounties.
Cecilia returned to North Carolina in 1973 to begin her journey in higher education. She attended Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, earning her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She received a master's degree in Guidance Counseling from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a Principal certification from N.C. State University.
She was a widely admired educator who was passionate about fostering the development of young people. Through her leadership, innovative approach to education, and loving heart, she created an inclusive environment where her students could excel and live their lives to the fullest.
Cecilia began her career in Raleigh, NC, as a school guidance counselor at Carnage Middle School and Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School after years of helping her students achieve their educational goals. She became an Assistant Principal at Myrtle Underwood Elementary School, where she developed the school's curriculum and arts programs. She became the Principal at Lucille Hunter Elementary School in 1990. Then, in 1993, she was appointed Principal at Wiley International Elementary School. While at Wiley, she and her colleagues selflessly assisted families in need - most notably, creating a holiday gift drive so that these students had all they needed during the holiday season. At her helm, the school received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award, which the U.S. Department of Education presented to schools that exemplify academic excellence. She valued and honored the school's cultural diversity, and during her fifteen years at the school, she made a space where all students and families felt accepted.
After a short-lived retirement in 2007, Cecilia and her partner-in-life, Dave Penrose, moved to Hot Springs, NC, to enjoy the great outdoors. She wasn't quite ready to retire from school life and was ready for another grand new adventure; she moved to Osaka, Japan, where she led the Osaka International School as its Principal. Three years later, she returned to N.C., where she, Dave, and their loving dog, Zoey, settled in West Asheville.
Finally ready for a slower pace, the three immersed themselves in the culture and beauty of Life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She devoted her time as a consultant for Communities in Schools and as an active volunteer at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville (UUCA) and Ten Thousand Villages. She was a board member at the Francine Delaney New School for Children and the Children First organization. Cecilia was a passionate advocate for social justice and voting rights.
Cecilia was an avid art enthusiast and adventurer who loved traveling the world and experiencing other cultures. The abundance of art pieces in her home reflects memories of these trips.
In addition to her devoted life partner, Dave Penrose, Cecilia is survived by her talented choreographer son Ashley Lindsey of Los Angeles; her much admired big brother Benjamin Rawlins and dear sister-in-law Yvette Rawlins of Greensboro, NC; two nieces, Aisha Soliman (former spouse Souley Soliman) and their son Omar Soliman of Greensboro, and Jasmine Rollins-Rawlins and wife Dorian Rollins-Rawlins and their two children Dylan and Drielle James Rollins-Rawlins of Maryland; Kristen Penrose Hernandez and grandchildren David Antonio and Gabriella Rose Hernandez of Raleigh, NC; and countless extended family and friends across the country and the world.
Cecilia is preceded in death by her parents, Lucille Roque Rawlins and James Henry "Pete" Rawlins, and her son-in-law, Michael Darin Findley.
Cecilia wanted her friends to know how deeply grateful she was to have them in her Life. She is also thankful for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville (UUCA), who cared for and supported her and Dave throughout her long illness, and her kind, generous friends and colleagues in Raleigh who made her career as an educator so rewarding. She is thankful for the generous supporters of the Cecilia Rawlins Fund at Wiley Elementary School and her loving, lifelong friends from the classes of 1972 and 1973 at Mount de Chantal Visitation and her close girlfriends, The Gigi's.
Cecilia and her family extend their deepest thanks to Tricia Danciu, Kathi Duffy, and Robyn Blakely, who were instrumental in caring for Cecilia in recent years.
She would also like to thank Vickie Leigh for their many years of companionship, love, and support and to recognize her close friends Robin Mara, Mandy Dugan Galbraith, Terry McManus, Jill Preyer, Amy Powchack, Barbara Brownsmith Campbell, Cynthia Clarey, Linda and Rafael Retting, Deb Holden, and Beverly Cutter.
Cecilia and her family are incredibly thankful for the caring support of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Care Partners Hospice and Solace Center.
A memorial service for Cecilia will be held on Saturday, September 14, at 11:00 a.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville, NC 28801.
A celebration of Life is to be held in Raleigh, NC, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Cecilia Rawlins Fund http://rawlinsfund.org in her memory.
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