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obitjusticecolorOn April 18 2021, Lucinda “Cindy” Shay Merola Justice diedd in her home in Los Angeles, surrounded by her family.

Survivors: her sons, Eric and Peter Merola; her niece, Taylor Shay; nephews, Mike Shay, Jeff Marshall and Pat Downey.

Preceding her in death: her 3 siblings, Deborah S. Downey of Mason, N.H.; Robert C. Shay of Winston-Salem; Stephen B. Shay of Chatham, Va.; her nephew, Thomas M Downey of Buffalo, N,Y,; and her parents, Lucille and Clint Shay of Corning, N.Y.

Born on Oct. 18, 1945 she was a 1963 graduate from Corning Free Academy. In 1970 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, N.Y. She maintained a decades-long career to help improve society through her social work. She began her work at Willard State Hospital in Willard, N.Y. After moving to Winston-Salem in 1971, she expanded social work to help children via CPS, foster care, and adoptions with Forsyth County Department of Social Services. She retired from her supervisor position in 2008 from the Davie County Department of Social Services while living in Mocksville.

She also had a deep love for nature. She was a horticulturalist, tending to greenhouses and gardens. She was also the head of horticulture for Tanglewood Park in Clemmons for many years.

In her later years, she was devoted to helping rehabilitate rescued animals.

A memorial will be planned in the near future. If you wish to be notified, email ljusticememorial@protonmail.com.