Obituaries

OBITUARY: Cindy Forbes Brown

June 26, 2026

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Cynthia “Cindy” Forbes Brown passed away on June 24, 2026, at her home in Lebanon, Tennessee, after a courageous battle with ataxia, a rare progressive neurological disorder. She was born on April 16, 1958, in Lebanon, Tennessee to Edna Gannon Forbes and Sam Ebb Forbes.

Cindy grew up in the Shop Springs community of Wilson County, where she spent much of her childhood helping her parents on the family farm and enjoying time with friends.

She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1976, where her competitive spirit shone through as a member of the LHS blue devilettes basketball team. She continued her education at Cumberland University, where she was a collegiate tennis player and also played on the university’s first ladies basketball team, and later graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.

After completing her education, Cindy embraced what she considered her most important role-being a mother. Her daughters were her greatest source of pride, strength, and joy. In 1994, she married Hugh Barton “Bart” Brown of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and together they built a life centered on family, faith, and community.

Cindy enjoyed attending her children’s sporting events and school activities, spending time with family and friends on Old Hickory Lake, and serving her community as an elected official. She was also a faithful member of the United Methodist Church.

Cindy’s kind spirit, loving heart, and dedication to her family and community will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edna Gannon Forbes and Sam Ebb Forbes, and her nephew, Nick Forbes.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Hugh Barton Brown; her daughters, Crystal Crockett Shields (Thomas) and Brittany Crockett Waring (Blake); and her cherished grandchildren, Shepherd, Olivia, Scarlet, Banner and Temperance Shields and Crockett and Whitaker Waring.

She is also survived by her siblings, Virginia Forbes Laudeman (John) and Mike Forbes (Melinda Halbert); her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Richard Brown, Ellen Brown Thomas (Carl), and Marcia Brown; and her nieces and nephews, Mac Thomas, Neil Thomas, Kyle Forbes, Hannah Forbes Smith, and many other beloved family members and friends.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the dedicated caregivers, Kim Leftrick, Aquilla Rollin and Janine Clemmons, for their compassionate care and kindness shown to Cindy during her final years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the National Ataxia Foundation (ataxia.org) or New Leash on Life (newleashonline.org).

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon, TN, on July 24, 2026, at 3 p.m.

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This obituary was published by Sellars Funeral Home – Lebanon.