James Norman Cunningham, Sr.

James Norman Cunningham Sr., 89, passed away on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at his home in Jacksonville, FL. He was born on November 13, 1926 in Silas, AL to Eddie and Edna Lloyd Cunningham. James grew up in Silas, AL. He graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile, AL in 1947. After high school he joined the Army and served in World War II, and then he joined the Anny National Guard and served during the Korean War achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. When he returned he took night classes at University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. Mr. Cunningham retired in 1983 after 37 years' civil service at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, AL and Newark Air Force Station in Heath, Ohio. He worked as a machinist and retired as supervisor in the metrology lab, working on missile guidance systems. James married Vera in 1950 in Eight Mile, AL. They were happily married for 56 years. James was a member of First Baptist Church in Heath, Ohio where he was ordained as a deacon and continued service as a deacon at West Normandy Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. He taught the Senior Men's Sunday School Class at West Normandy as well as sang in the choir. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, visiting family and friends and traveling. James was preceded in death by his father Eddie Clinton Cunningham, mother Edna Lloyd Cunningham, wife Vera Elizabeth Key Cunningham, son, James Norman Cunningham, Jr., brothers, Thomas Leroy Cunningham and William Clinton Cunningham, sisters, Esther Cunningham Toomey, Clara (Monk) Cunningham Roberts, Pauline Cunningham Edmond, Susie Mae Cunningham Loper, Lulamae Cunningham Wilson and Teollie Cunningham Byrd. James is survived by his daughters, Sonja Faye Cunningham Sherwood of Jacksonville, FL and Denise Illeanna Cunningham Perkins of Gainesville, FL; his grandchildren, Illeanna Faye Griffin, James Lee Perkins, Dennis Leroy Perkins, James Norman Cunningham III, Jonathan Ross Cunningham (Christina), Shawn Michael Sherwood (Kellie) and Jason Michael Cunningham; his 9 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; and his numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives. Visitation will be Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home, Saraland. Services will be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. from the funeral home. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Saraland, AL. Condolences may be offered online at www.radneyfuneralhome-saraland.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 1200 Industrial Parkway, Saraland, Alabama 36571.