Cindi was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Ashtabula County, Ohio . She joined the United States Marine Corps in 1982 and was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina the majority of her service career.  She married her husband, Malcolm Quay, in 1985, and their daughter, Phylicia, was born in 1987.

After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in 1987, Cindi worked as a secretary in New Bern, North Carolina . She received her B.A. in Justice and Public Policy from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1994.  She then worked as a paralegal for several years before attending law school at North Carolina Central University in 1997. She was admitted to the North Carolina bar in 2000.

Cindi is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, 3B Judicial District, North Carolina Bar Association, and Craven County Bar Association.  She served as Vice President/Treasurer of the Craven County Bar Association from 2007-2008 and President of the Craven County Bar Association from 2008-2009.  

Also, since 2002, Cindi has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Coalition Against Family Violence, now known as Promise Place . She is a former President and currently serves as Secretary for the Board.  Promise Place is a non-profit organization that serves the community by providing assistance for survivors of sexual assault.