Gloria Violet Cunningham, 94, formerly of Guntersville, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home on November 19th, surrounded by her family. She was a devoted Christian who freely shared her faith in Jesus and was loved deeply by her family and friends. She showed incredible strength in her last days by frequently quoting her favorite verse, Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me”.
Gloria was born on November 12, 1929, and raised in Chicago, IL, graduated from Amundsen High School in 1948 and worked as the executive assistant to the president of a large wholesale hardware distributer. It was in Chicago where she met her true love, Richard “Dick” Cunningham, a tall and handsome Wyoming rancher and soon-to-be engineer at the Aragon Ballroom. Sharing a love for dancing thru a passionate courtship, they eventually married and started a family. Opportunity knocked many times, taking them to Southern California, Central Florida and then Alabama, all while raising 5 children. They eventually retired to their home in Guntersville, Alabama. Through-out her life, Gloria enjoyed traveling to many new places with her husband and family and felt blessed for those opportunities.
Her great joy in this life was the large family that she nurtured and encouraged starting with her loving husband, her 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Her family will tell you there was no doubt she was the driving influence in keeping her family on track through loving encouragement, hard work and setting a living example. She expressed many times that she felt very blessed by her creator for her family. She bubbled with joy with each grandchild and her joy was overflowing when those same grandchildren brought great-grandchildren to her. Her family is extremely grateful to our heavenly father for blessing us with such a loving mother.
Gloria was a resident at Somerby Independent Living Community in Birmingham, Alabama for the last 13 years and was so grateful for all the friendships that blossomed there and the great kindness she always received from the Somerby staff. Gloria had a playful sense of humor that brought a sparkle to the eyes of many residents of Somerby and her family.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Richard Cunningham, her parents George and Violet Hauswirth and her two sisters Marilyn Carson and Eileen Jennings.
She is survived by her 5 children: George Cunningham (Jeanette); Glenn Cunningham (Karen); Colleen Davenport (Mike); Kathleen Grigsby (David); Rick Cunningham (Cretia).
8 Granddaughters: Kelly Stegall (Mark); Abbey Busch (Ryan); Christine Cunningham (Milou); Ashley Anderson (David); Gabrielle Dreher (Scotty); Laura Ann Davenport; Inna Davenport and Sara Grigsby. 6 Grandsons: Justin and Andrew Davenport; Matthew Grigsby (Taylor) and Adam Grigsby; Patrick and Ryan Cunningham.
11 Great-Grandchildren: Luke and Mason Stegall; Hayden and Ella Busch; Oliver and Hadley Grigsby; Judah and Elijah Anderson; Lawson and Weston Dreher; and Louie Cunningham.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 in the chapel at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville, Alabama followed by a graveside service at Crestview Cemetery for family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any remembrances be sent to one of Gloria’s favorite charities such as the Humane Society where Gloria’s love of animals could be shared, or the Smile Train, a charity providing corrective surgery for children, or to a charity of your choice.
