A Tale of Two Cindys: How Riverside Homes Built a Relationship That Is Fighting to Build a Better World

At Riverside Homes, we don’t just build homes. We build relationships. We build trust. For us, we hope that each of our new home sales consultants and clients develop strong connections that extend far beyond the sale. At the end of the day, we want to curate a sense of camaraderie and family during each of our transactions because we want every house to be more than a house…we want it to be your home. For Riverside Homes new home sales consultant Cindy Walters and her client Cindy A., this became a reality as they bonded through much more than just sharing a name. In fact, they shared many ups and downs together as they both went on to play monumental roles in each other’s lives.

Soon after deciding to work with Walters on her dream family home, Cindy A. was faced with one of the darkest moments of her life. Her beloved husband of 25 years, Joe, passed away from Pancreatic Stage 4 cancer. Through these incredibly difficult times, Cindy Walters was more than just an agent to Cindy A. Whether it was working closely to make any necessary accommodations or simply texting her thoughts and prayers, she was there for their family. Ultimately, it was this relationship and consideration that led Cindy A. to nominate Cindy Walters as a candidate for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year. However, the only person truly fit to illustrate such an emotional journey is Cindy A. herself. Below is Cindy A.’s nomination letter that encompasses her story and the impact that Cindy Walters had on her life:

Riverside Homes takes pride in helping others and is already involved in Rethreaded, The Will King Foundation, Hunger Fight, Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville, The Healing Hearts Project & Best Buddies. They are a builder with a Big Heart. They hire an amazing team that supports their mission to be more than a local quality builder, but personally touch others in a positive way in their community. I will touch on this on some examples of a variety of employees I personally was in contact with, but this is a special story of an employee, Cindy Walters. 

When you think of it, the new home consultant becomes the face of Riverside. It is the first impression of the company and one main reason a client signs paperwork for a new home. I do not need to tell you that buying a home is the most expensive purchase a family makes and that a home is personal and emotional because a home is where you raise your family and memories are made. You can celebrate weddings, births, birthdays, holidays, graduations, promotions, weekends, and gift of everyday life. It is also your refuge from a hard day or any trial you or your family must walk through.

I am a proud owner of a Riverside home. Yes, the quality is amazing, and I love my home. I cannot say enough good things about the craftsmanship, but this is my personal example of Cindy’s heart and the story how Riverside Homes was a light in our darkness.

My love of my life, and husband of twenty-five years, Joe was diagnosed with Pancreatic Stage 4 Cancer. This cancer was a secondary cancer stemming from the treatments of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Stage 3b he received while we were dating at Auburn University. Joe’s diagnosis was April 1st, 2019, right at the start of COVID. Before this, we were enjoying our first year of the empty nest stage with our two kids in out of state college. 

After the diagnosis, my sweet husband Joe wanted to bring me full circle back to the south close to my parents since our kids were all over the country. A hand off you can say, to make sure I had someone to look after me like he lovingly did. Joe was enrolled in a study drug at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN. So, we got permission to transfer the study to Jacksonville Mayo and we started a search for homes. Our research showed that Riverside Homes was known for being a quality builder. We met Cindy Walters on a zoom. I still recall her compassion and hiding the tears in her eyes. Our relator knew that Joe was wanting a tad larger home for me than the one about to break ground from Riverside, and he recommended some other builders. Joe and I talked, and we told our realtor that we only wanted Riverside after our zoom meeting with Cindy. Cindy also asked management and got permission to make this spec home our own with a few changes. For Joe, the dream of taking care of me and a future he could picture for me, was healing and it brought light in the darkness. Thank you, Cindy, for going above and beyond and thank you Riverside for letting her do this for us.

Out of 4 months from diagnosis to passing, Joe probably only had about 14 days out of the hospital. Things were very complicated with him due to his past chemo and radiation cancer treatments and the damage those treatments had done to heart, etc. before pancreatic cancer. I was blessed that after the first few weeks, Mayo started letting me visit Joe during the day while he was in the hospital even though there was a strict lockdown at Mayo due to Covid. They knew our time was short and they made exceptions each time he was released from the ER to the hospital floor. I loved every second with Joe even if we were stuck in hospital and selfishly still want more of those days. It is challenging looking at options for a build when you are in constant procedures, doctor visits, testing, etc. We would laugh that we could have no more than five minutes and another round was coming in. Cindy was receptive answering all our texts, emails, and questions. Thank you again Cindy for your knowledge, professionalism, and kindness. When we signed the papers, we thought Joe would be able to live a few months in our new Riverside Home. The warm weather of Jacksonville would be easier on the nerve pain caused by the pancreatic cancer chemo. Besides, instead of 6-hour drive round trip commute to Mayo Rochester which was done four to five times a week would be 40-minutes round trip to Mayo Jacksonville. We even had to wire the money from a hospital bed on public Mayo WIFI. The wiring and DocuSign were completed right before our 25th Wedding Anniversary. Right after the wiring, Joe wanted to celebrate, and he convinced the nurse that I could wheel him out of the hospital in the wheelchair to take an anniversary picture in the main Gonda building at Mayo. It felt like we were breaking out of jail. Most importantly to Joe, he knew he was getting me close to my parents in South Carolina. 

The dream of our new home was more than a distraction from Joe’s physical pain, it brought him peace and joy. Joe could picture Thanksgiving meals and Christmas with our kids. He would talk about our future grandkids going to the beach or down the Nocatee waterslide one day. We picked out what his grand kids could call him, and my job was to tell them all about Papa Joe and that he picked this neighborhood and house just for them. Joe was a part of every decision of this house including tile, color of paint, etc. as we scoured the internet from hospital beds. Cindy Walters sent us the exterior paint color choices, and every time I pull up to my house it makes me smile. Joe and I picked it together, compromising and discussing if it was modern but timeless. It is still “our house” even though he never saw it. Joe had to reschedule the AV appointment three times because he was in procedures. Joe was adamant to be at the 5 Smooth Stones appointment and we had that appointment with Ryan Hitchcock one day before we moved. Joe was so sick. He added a ton of speakers, etc. to the house. He knew I loved music, although he was the musician in in the family, and he wanted me to be able to surround myself with it. I must admit, I love the speakers since the house is so quiet otherwise. Joe knew I wouldn’t have added them, which also makes me laugh. I listen to the music, and I find joy knowing it was his final gift to me. I look at the master bath, and it is exactly like the vision we came up with together. I drive up and know that this home is the house we built together. Thank you Cindy and Riverside Homes in allowing us to make it personal and my safe haven.

Joe passed exactly 4 days from the day we moved to Jacksonville. His family from Birmingham and his best college friends from the south drove into Jacksonville to finally see him. With covid and how weak he was, we finally were taking the chance. When they left Sunday morning, Joe told me he knew he had to be admitted in the ER again not from Covid, but further complications form pancreatic cancer. After he was out of the ER, Mayo Jacksonville let me visit on the hospital floor. The next day he was transferred to the Hospice floor. Mayo made another exception, they let my parents have access in the hospital. Joe was fully sedated from the pain, but the moment my parents walked in the room he passed, the handoff was complete. Somehow, he knew my parents were there.

My design appointment with Ginger Wallace was just a few days after Joe went to heaven. My father encouraged me to still go because Joe wanted me in this home. Cindy was so loving that she also went to the design studio. It was so kind because I felt so comfortable with Cindy, and she instinctively knew that I needed her support. A funny story is Joe and I never settled on the island color. I was thinking white, and he thought it might be too stark all white. I was literally crying on the way to Riverside Design Studio while I was talking to Joe in my car. Not sure if he could really hear me, I am telling him that I was going with the “all white” kitchen including the island and that I hope he is ok with that. Suddenly, without any rain, a rainbow appears in the sky. I knew he heard me and was telling me to go with whatever color. I told the story to Ginger and Cindy when I get there. We continued to talk a little, I discovered connections to Ginger from Auburn. I knew one of her Sorority sisters well because she was married to one of Joe’s best friends. To only discover, that Ginger set Marsha up with that exact friend of Joe! Joe was a groomsman at that wedding and naturally Ginger who set up the couple on a blind date was there. Small world, we were all at the wedding! And then to learn that Joe’s other good friend and fraternity brother from Auburn, Andy Prewitt, was related to Ginger. But even more amazing than that, Eric Wilson came out and prayed over me during that meeting. Cindy Walters told me that the whole family at Riverside Homes had been praying for us. Cindy sent me a rainbow picture from an airplane she took.
 
Every person I have met from Riverside is so kind and loving. Cindy Walters even invited me to her home on New Year’s long after my house was built. Bill Rule spent some time visiting with my son, Sam, encouraging him for his future. Sam has now started his MBA. Paul Gertz is the nicest man, when I use to see him in his truck in the neighborhood finishing up the other homes, he is always so encouraging to me and telling me great advise on mourning. I loved seeing Ryan O’Dell at Cindy’s Blessing Breakfast. Ryan cares so much about making sure the quality of workmanship is up to Riverside’s standards, but he also is so kind. I got to meet his wife and son Sully. At this Blessing Breakfast I also had the opportunity to meet Dean Dixon. My house is more than just a home, it was a ray of light in the darkness and still is for me today. It brought my husband such peace. The employees of Riverside Homes are not just selling, designing, managing construction quality, or project managers for construction, at Riverside, they represent the mission of Riverside Homes. The owners hire the best employees and contractors because they have a mission to be greater than the homes built. They have big hearts and are involved in all those organizations I mentioned earlier, and they treat everyone with such love and kindness. I could not be prouder of owning a Riverside Home.

To give light in the darkness, like Cindy and Riverside Homes did for me, I am now fighting for others on the battlefield of cancer through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Cindy Walters was on top of my list to ask for a candidate for Man & Woman of the Year because of her big heart. Cindy is a light in the darkness for so many already in her everyday life. To no surprise, Cindy accepted my nomination and Riverside Homes is supporting her decision. Cindy is smart, creative, motivated, organized and loving. Thank you, Riverside, for being a builder with a Big Heart! Cindy, thank you for continuing to help others in their cancer stories. You will provide financial support for treatments, help fund lifesaving novel therapies, and bring darkness to so many through your fundraising campaign.

For the cure,
Cindy A.

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Now, Cindy Walters is incredibly grateful of this amazing honor and opportunity. In fact, the title of Man & Woman of the Year is a vital part of an initiative by LLS for helping research the cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma as well as improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Essentially, it’s a 10-week philanthropic competition for leaders in the community, such as Cindy, and at the end of the competition, the candidate that raises the most funds for this worthy cause will be awarded the title of Man & Woman of the Year.

Most importantly, this endeavor is about each candidate raising as much money as they can to help. As a candidate, Cindy Walters is eager to start helping LLS in their fight as she recognizes their strong impact and potential in saving so many patients. She went on to say, “There are many reasons to be proud of LLS’s efforts.” For instance, although over 1.2 million people are living with these diseases, LLS has helped to advance over 85% of FDA-approved blood cancer treatments since 2017. Even more impressively, since 1960, the survival rates for blood cancers have increased by four times, highlighting the importance of advanced research and funding. Ultimately, blood cancer research leads to more effective treatments for patients, and therefore, like many others that have witnessed the harsh side of these cancers and diseases, Cindy knows that LLS “is an organization that is truly making an impact with the dollars it raises.”

Cindy will be campaigning with her team Loxley’s Angels who represent Loxley, a 9-year-old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that is currently taking oral chemo and receiving monthly IV chemo. As a longtime, dedicated member of our Riverside Homes family, we are proud to fully support Cindy’s campaign through a corporate sponsorship. “By taking pride in helping others, touching people in a positive way, and being a ray of light during someone’s time of darkness, Cindy embodies everything that Riverside Homes stands for as a company,” shares Andrea Johnson, Riverside Homes Online Sales and Marketing Director.

As Loxley courageously continues his fight against this disease, you can help fight alongside him. Starting March 4^th through May 13^th, you can support Loxley and LLS by making a donation on Cindy Walters’ official fundraising page HERE.

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. The team goal is $100,000 in this time frame. However, Cindy wants to raise as much as possible because it will not only support LLS research but also patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services. To support Cindy for the LLS Man & Woman of the Year, spread the word to others who can help and use the above site to donate anything you can because, like building a home, every little piece is important. With everyone’s support of people like Cindy Walters and businesses like Riverside Homes, the builder with the big heart, we can build a world without blood cancers.