Jane Cynthia Burke Hollyhand

NORTHPORT Jane Cynthia (Cindy) Burke Hollyhand, age 61, of Northport, died Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Cindy was born July 14, 1949, in Los Angeles, California.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Doug Hollyhand; her sons, Brian (Leigh) Hollyhand and Riley (Crystal) Hollyhand of Tuscaloosa; daughter, Amanda (Wesley) Livingston of Northport; and her grandchildren, Brilyn, Ainslee, and Anna Riley Hollyhand. She is also survived by her mother, Lola Burke and brother, Chip (Marcia) Burke of Tuscaloosa along with nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, William Carl (Chuck) Burke, Jr. of Tuscaloosa, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Burke, Sr. of San Diego, Calif. and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones Riley, of Guin, Ala.

A memorial service will be held today, Aug. 6, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa, officiated by Dr. Ken Dunivant, Dr. Annette Shelby, and Coach Tom Tarleton. The service will be preceded by a private family burial ceremony at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South.

Pallbearers will be her cousins Mike, Eddie, and Kenny McDonald, Greg and Andy Watkins, Major and Ry Ogilvie, Randy Hudson, Blair Riley, and Lloyd Riley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jan Tidmore, Martie Patton, Barbara Reid, and Malissa Cargile.

The family will receive friends at the church after the 2:00 p.m. service.

Cindy graduated from Thousand Oaks High School and attended Moorpark Community College in California before transferring to The University of Alabama where she completed degrees in home economics and secondary education. She taught social studies and home economics at Collins-Riverside Middle School, supervised student teachers for The University of Alabama College of Education, and initiated and directed the First Wesleyan Academy preschool before joining her husband and children in their work at Doug Hollyhand Realty.

Cindy fought valiantly but lost her twelve-year battle with cancer after undergoing two liver transplants and an aneurysm. She endured her illness with dignity, faith, perseverance, and class, as she lived all aspects of her life. In the eyes of her family and friends, Cindy was the most wonderful and gracious daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, and Nana who ever lived. Cindy lived her life with the most positive attitude; throughout her many surgeries, she went into the operating room with a smile. As her friend, John Pradat often said, “She is the best person I know.” Those who visited the hospital to lift her spirits left feeling that Cindy had lifted theirs instead. Cindy was an inspiration to all who saw her struggle and who marveled at how she kept overcoming each threat and crisis. Time after time, her doctors were amazed at her recovery against overwhelming odds. Her doctor recently referred to Cindy as “one with 15 lives”—her family and friends were hoping for 16. During Cindy's twelve years of illness, she never complained or questioned, “Why me?” She faced it all with a smile, kind words, love and concern for others.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa or the American Cancer Society.