Lila Carol Cunningham

Lila Carol Cunningham, an educator and community leader whose career spanned school desegregation efforts in New York to literacy initiatives in rural Nicaragua, died on September 22, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. Born on May 9, 1926, in Morristown, New Jersey, to Pearl and Charles Greenfield, she was 100 years old.

Lila Cunningham studied at New York University, earned her bachelor's degree from Bethany College, and her master's degree in education from Columbia University's Teachers College. She was a champion of education from early in her career, beginning with a significant role in helping to clarify court-ordered monitoring in school desegregation cases. She was elected president of the New Rochelle, New York Board of Education in 1970, and went on to work as a research associate for various federal agencies, as well as a specialist with Ohio State University's Mershon Center for Public Policy. She later served as director of St. Joseph Montessori School. With her husband, Luvern Cunningham, she co-founded Leadership Development Associates, a global education consultancy.

Beyond her professional work, Mrs. Cunningham was deeply engaged in her community. In New Rochelle, she served as a trustee of the Wildcliff Youth Museum and led the local Community Action Committee, formed to combat illiteracy and poverty during a period of significant upheaval within public schools.

Together, the Cunninghams also established the Luvern L. Cunningham and Lila Carol Cunningham Governance of Education Fund, an endowed fund at Ohio State University, in honor of her late husband, Professor Emeritus Luvern L. Cunningham.

At 80 years old, Lila Cunningham and her husband moved to Nicaragua, building a new home and embracing a new culture. Seeing a need in their adopted community, they were founding members of Crea (known in the U.S. as the Nicaragua Educational Resource Center), a charitable organization supporting literacy and learning throughout Nicaragua. Mrs. Cunningham remained active in supporting the organization until the end of her life.

She was known by all as a force of nature — a woman of endless energy, stalwart determination, and a remarkable array of talents.

She was predeceased by her husband, Luvern Cunningham; her son, Todd; and her stepson, Steven (Rene). She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth (Bill), Claudia (Doug), and Jennifer (Joe); her stepson, Richard (Susan); ten grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren. The family extends immense gratitude to all her compassionate caretakers.

Visitation will be held on Monday, September 28, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 29, at 12:00 p.m., with burial to follow at Maplewood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Crea (Nicaragua Educational Resource Center) https://creanicaragua.org/