Cindy M. Risk

Cindy M. Risk passed away suddenly Friday evening, January 24, 2014, after a car accident in Sullivan Gardens. She was born in Pratt, Kansas but moved to Los Angeles in her youth and eventually graduated from Eagle Rock High School in 1966. She moved to the Kingsport area in 1973 where she lived the rest of her life.

Cindy was dedicated to a non-profit organization called Hunger First. She spent most of her life in the service of her local community, working tirelessly to help feed, clothe, and provide much needed support to low income families in the area. She worked with several churches in an effort to provide groceries and hot meals to those in need of assistance. She believed that making a difference in others' lives was her calling and that she had found her purpose in life. She also was "an artist, a poet, and sometimes a writer". She was honored with recognitions from The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as well as The Harry Chapin Self Reliance Award for organizations that go above and beyond to help people improve their own lives and the communities in which they live.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Barnes and two brothers, Raymond Barnes, and Michael Barnes, all of Pratt, KS.

Cindy M. Risk is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Stephen V. Risk of Kingsport, TN; two sons, Michael J. Gillis of Kingsport, TN, and Sam Gillis and wife, Julie of Hampton, TN; a step-daughter, Courtney R. Risk of Kingsport, TN; and one grand-daughter, Ella-Rose M. Risk.

The family will be receiving friends between 5:00p-7:00p on Friday, January 31, 2014 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. Funeral services will follow at 7:00 pm. with Rev. Tommy Rutledge officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family believes that Cindy would have wanted donations to be made to the organization that she loved, Hunger First. Please send any donations to Hunger First c/o Cindy Memorial Fund; 829 Myrtle St., Kingsport, TN 37660. Also, any food donations will be accepted at the same location at a later date. Hunger First is currently closed while her family takes time to remember and celebrate her life, but it will re-open soon.