Cynthia Derry is Rotary’s newest member

Cynthia Bigham Derry is beginning a great adventure in friendship, in service to the community and fellow man, and in leadership. She was invited to membership, and the Rotary Club of Marlin has accepted her as a person of good character, high ethical standards, a person who has the heart of service and will represent the classification as a leader in the community. Her sponsor has extended the hand of friendship and invited her to become part of a worldwide organization dedicated to encouraging and fostering the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

At an introduction, training, and celebratory program held at The Chicken Place on July 20, 2022, new Rotary members were invited to introduce themselves, their professional story, talents & community experience. On July 27, 2022, Rotary District Governor Shannon Coleman was present at the Rotary Club of Marlin meeting to induct and “pin” Ms. Derry into service of Rotary International. 

Cynthia Derry’s story goes like this. 

Her name is Cynthia Bigham Derry. She was born and raised in Marlin, TX. She is the fifth of fourteen children born to Sidney James and Lebetha Mae Bigham. She attended Booker T. Washington High School until the tenth grade. Cynthia Derry graduated from Marlin High School in 1971.

Cynthia Derry is the proud mother of two adult children, a daughter and a son. 

She holds two Bachelor’s degrees and three Master’s degrees. Cynthia Derry’s most recent career was teaching Math, English, Science, and Business in six public schools and one junior college in Texas. 

Her previous careers included a) 20 years in banking – Vice President/Branch Manager; b) Senior Contract Administrator on the first stealth bomber program (B-2); c) Housing Coordinator for the City of Fort Worth culminating in a round table and luncheon in the U.S. White House during the Clinton Administration. Cynthia Derry d) created the first African American beauty school in Ft. Worth, TX; e) drove 18-wheeler trucks for summer income; f) created her own school (Genesis Christian School).

Cynthia Derry enjoys singing, reading, Solitaire, interfacing with people, and researching data for facts. 

Cynthia Bigham Derry is a candidate for Falls County Judge. She looks “forward to improving city streets in the county so that we can grow and flourish,” says Cynthia Derry.

As all Rotarians, Cynthia Derry was invited to join Rotary, but it will be through her own actions that she will become a Rotarian. Twenty-, thirty, and forty-year Rotarians will encourage her to learn all she can about Rotary, and to strengthen her own leadership and communication skills by actively participating in the activities of the club, including attending weekly meetings, social events, and service projects. She will be provided many opportunities through the Rotary club and district to enhance and expand her professional and personal skills; these opportunities can provide great value to her. As a Rotarian, she will also be provided with many opportunities to provide service to others—through club service, vocational service, community service, new generations service and international service—known as Rotary’s 5 Avenues of Service. The Rotary Club of Marlin is known for great work in education and vocational scholarships and has been involved for many years amongst many other local and international projects. 

Rotary Club of Marlin welcomes Cynthia Bigham Derry’s strong arm and strong heart for service in the club to engage Service Beyond Self and Imagine Rotary. 

To Cynthia Derry by President Letitia Estep, “when you shake the hand of one Rotarian, you are within reach of 1.2 million more.” United, Rotarians are working to fight disease, save mothers and children, grow local communities, provide clean water, sanitation. and hygiene, support education, promote peace, and protect the environment.