Melvia Mae Cunningham

At 18, Melvia decided to leave Arkansas and join Roosevelt Cunningham in Portland, Oregon. They were later married in Chicago, and returned to Portland. Into this union three sons were born: Carmon, Gerald, and Derwin Cunningham.

Melvia worked in Portland as a licensed practical nurse at the county hospital and later for the Multnomah County Health Department, at the Multi-Service Center, and then at Northeast Health Center.

She was known to some as Melvia, some as Mom, others as Aunt Mac and sometimes Mother Cunningham or, as she introduced herself, Mrs. Cunningham, but to her husband of 60 years, she was Mac. Regardless of what name she answered to, she loved her family and demonstrated this love in many ways.

She loved God and people of all races, ages, and backgrounds. She loved the body of Christ, the church. One of her greatest desires was to see the church move according to the Book of Acts, in God’s power and presence.

She demonstrated her love for others by visiting, calling, and praying for them, always offering words of encouragement and affirmation. She was given to hospitality, receiving many people in her home for housing, ministry, fellowship, and friendship.

She was a woman of prayer and a mighty intercessor. For the past 20-plus years, she served as co-lead of the 6:00 a.m. prayer meeting at Life Change Church. She belonged to the citywide outreach prayer group that met weekly at New Song Church. She served in several leadership positions at local and national levels with Women Aglow Fellowship, ministered with Firegate Ministries, the City of Grace International Ministry, and a host of others. She was a great leader, support, and inspiration for many.

Melvia had a reputation for good works, not only in the church but also in the marketplace. This reputation was known throughout the community and followed her wherever she went. She had compassion for the sick and afflicted, often visiting hospitals, care facilities, jails, prisons, and homes for prayer, comfort, and consolation.

Melvia loved to travel and did so extensively through the USA and other parts of the world, including Africa and Europe. In addition to attending many conferences, church events, and activities across the nation, she served on and was a blessing to several ministry teams.

She joins the family who preceded her in death; her mother and father; her brothers, Ernest Hensley of Portland, Oregon, and Hillard & Doris Hensley, both of Chicago; her sister Naomi Rhymes of Portland, Oregon; her husband of 60 years, Roosevelt Cunningham; her son Carmon Cunningham of Newton, Massachusetts, and by Richard Lachinksy.

Melvia is survived by two sons, Gerald and Derwin Cunningham; daughter-in-law Paula Hammond-Cunningham; brother-in-law John Henry Cunningham; daughter Diane Wallinger; stepson Alford Bland; 11 grandchildren; Dante and Rathana Cunningham, James Hammond, Lajuane Brown, Jinnina Chiles, Gerald Cunningham II, Destiny Hanson-Line, Cobrina Hanson, Nayomi Cunningham, Nailah Cunningham, Caleb Cunningham, Noah Cunningham; five great-grandchildren; godsons Thomas Smith and Malcolm Parker; God-given daughters Debra Moody and Jacquelyn Coleman, sons Michael Jones and Donald Shaw, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.