Cynthia Jacqueline (Burns) Childers

Mrs. Cynthia Jacqueline (Burns) Childers was born to the late Buster James and Lizzie Jackson Burns in Clanton, Alabama, on March 21, 1943. As an only child, she was the joy and delight of her parents and grandparents.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in 1951 at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Clanton, Alabama, and remained a member her entire life. She was active in Sunday School and the church during her childhood and early life. She stated “from the time I was baptized forward, Jesus was my friend for life, and He stuck closer to me than any brother.”

She was a firm believer in the Serenity Prayer which she often quoted in her conversations where she asked God to grant her the serenity to accept the things she could not change, the courage to change the things she could, and wisdom to know the difference.

She was educated in the Chilton County school system and graduated from Chilton County Training School in 1960. She attended Daniel Payne College in Birmingham, Alabama, for one year but did not return after the summer break because she was homesick and loved being close to her family. She worked at Dan River Mills in Clanton; however, she spent the majority of her working years as a domestic and personal caregiver for children and adults. She worked for many years on Sundays and during Wednesday service in the nursery at Clanton’s First Methodist Church.

She loved everything around the home—cooking, baking, decorating, gardening, and especially entertaining. She enjoyed celebrating all holidays and loved having family and friends over for good food and fun. She took pride in her home and family. She participated in the Auburn Extension Homemakers Program and was a member of the Happy Homemakers Club which was one of two African-American Homemakers clubs in the county.

She was united in holy marriage to Carthell Hardnett, and to this union, one daughter, Regina Elizabeth Hardnett, was born.

Regina was her life and brought her great joy and pride. She was also married to Elexton “Pet” Agee and James Childers, all of whom preceded her in death.

Mrs. Cynthia was called home to her eternal rest on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Northway Health and Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory: her son-in-law, William “Bill” Freeman of Somerville, AL; goddaughter, Callie (Michael) Nelson of Auburn, AL; and a host of other relatives, friends, and a community she loved and who loved her.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cynthia Jacqueline (Burns) Childers, please visit our floral store.