Lucille Maria Cunningham

On September 15, 1952, Lucille Maria Cunningham’s journey began when she entered this world as the oldest of two children, to the late George Jackson Beatty and Louise Carolyn Beatty in Louisville, KY. Her earthly journey ended on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, when she peacefully made her heavenly transition. Lucille’s upbringing was centered in a Christian home. During her childhood, she attended and was baptized at First Virginia Avenue Baptist Church under the late Rev. Dr. R.J. Miller. Lucille was educated in Jefferson County Schools where she graduated from Shawnee High School. God introduced Lucille to her one true love, the late Reverend Larry Shelton Cunningham, who she spent 43 years of life with until God called him home on November 26, 2012. From their union they had four children: Larry Deon Cunningham, Angie Maria Tedford, Lauren Denise Cunningham, and Ashley Rae Mandel. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lucille pursued a career in healthcare as an advocate for patients and families serving as a Patient Representative and Patient Liaison for the Norton Healthcare System for over 40 years. In 2017, she retired after four decades of service. Lucille’s love for Christ was a guiding force in her life and inspired her commitment to serving God and Christian Fellowship. Her leadership in ministry was exemplified through the various ways she served the Church as an active participant in several ministries. Lucille’s love of music led to her extended work with the youth, young adult, and adult choirs. She also served as a long-time Christian educator, coordinated various annual church celebrations, and offered the gift of radical hospitality as a proud member of the usher and greeter ministry. Up until the day of her passing, Lucille was a devoted member of St. Stephen Baptist Church where she served on the Greeter Ministry Team. Lucille will be remembered for an earthly journey where she showed others what it means to be a proud, loving, and devoted wife, mother, grammie, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and colleague. She was a lover of college and professional sports, a spirited fan of Louisville Cardinals athletics, and an impassioned Scrabble, Jeopardy, and Spades player. Lucille found great joy in mentoring and coaching most people she met, but especially her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. She indeed was one of a kind. Lucille was preceded in her death by her husband, Rev. Larry S. Cunningham. Those left to cherish and to honor her memories are son, Larry Cunningham of Louisville, KY, daughter, Angie Tedford (Montez) of Hoover, AL, daughter, Lauren Cunningham (Ali Brown) of Greensboro, NC, daughter Ashley Mandel of Louisville, KY, sister Carolyn Connor (Barry) of Louisville, KY, six grandchildren DonShaun Coleman, Montajah Tedford-Robinson, Larry Cunningham II, Michaela and Michael Mandel of Louisville, KY, London Tedford of Hoover, AL, three fur grandbabies (Marley, Diesel, & Coal), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and dear friends. Funeral services will be live streamed at https://www.ssclive.tv/ and also at St. Stephen You Tube Channel and Facebook

Lucille Maria Cunningham

September 15, 1952 - January 10, 2023