Jean T. Cunningham

Jean Marie Toler Cunningham, age 92, went to her eternal rest on October 30, 2022 in Cumming, Georgia. She is survived by her daughters, Julie Behnke of Corpus Christi and Lori Fulwood (Greg) of Cumming, Georgia. She is survived also by her sister, Patricia Ward of Frederick, Maryland. Also mourning her loss are her eight grandchildren, Hunter Behnke of Corpus Christi, Rory Behnke of Kyle of Texas, Brenna Marshall of Spokane, Washington, Lee Dennis of Smyrna, Georgia, Paul Cunningham of McAlester, Oklahoma, Shane Cunningham of Round Rock, Texas and Erin Rangel of Dobbs Ferry, New York and Victor Garza of Corpus Christi. She is also survived by many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Syl, her parents, six brothers and sisters and two special sons-in-laws, Ed Dennis and Ron Behnke.

Jean was born October 8, 1930 in Virginia Beach, Virginia and lived in the beach areas of Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton, Virginia. She was born to William Cecil Toler and Julia Frances Moncado Toler and was one of seven children born to this union. Growing up in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, Jean graduated from Hampton High School and became a telephone operator. In June of 1949, she met a young sailor who was mustering out of the Navy and planning to return home to Texas. It was love at first sight and six weeks after meeting, Jean and Sylvester Cunningham Jr. married and moved to Texas. Living in West Texas was a definite change for Jean but she made a home for her husband and four children. In 1968, work brought Jean and Syl to Corpus Christi where they lived until Syl’s death in 1988.

After being a homemaker and mother for many years, Jean decided when she and Syl became empty nesters to join the workforce. She studied and achieved a real estate license and worked for Dolphin Realty. In the mid 80’s she went to work for Braslau’s Furniture and continued to sell furniture until her retirement in the mid 90’s. After retirement, Jean was active in her church work at Calvary Baptist Church and was active in the City of Corpus Christi senior programs attending the Garden Center almost everyday for lunch and socializing with other seniors. She was recognized by the City of Corpus Christi several years in a row as a volunteer senior. She also enjoyed her weekly “Train” domino group. After some setbacks with her health 2000, the decision was made for her to move to Cumming, Georgia to live with her daughter, Lori.

Her remains have been returned to Texas and will be placed with her husband, Syl at Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Corpus Christi. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at Memory Gardens Chapel on December 7, 2022 at 10 AM. The family requests remembrances be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 2421 Gollihar St, Corpus Christi, Texas 78415 in Jean’s name.