Donald E. Cunningham

Mr. Don Cunningham, son of Elijah and Flora Cunningham died Thursday, February 3, 2005.  He was born and raised in Eldridge, Alabama.  Mr. Cunningham attended the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship. During World War II he served as captain of a B-29 Superfortress in the Pacific Theatre flying out of Saipan.  He joined the Progressive Farmer Company in 1950 in Birmingham, Alabama.  In 1952 he was transferred to the New York office and later became Regional Vice President and Regional Advertising Manager.  In 1966 the Progressive Farmer Company started Southern Living magazine.  He was in on the founding of the publication and later became Vice President and Director of Travel and Trade Relations.  After serving 38 years with the company, he retired and worked as a consultant for Southern Living until December 31, 1990.  He was one of the founding members of the Southeast Tourism Society and served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.  The organization now is the largest regional travel organization.  He still serves as an honorary member and received the Shining Light Award for doing more to help the organization than any other member.  He has been very active in many travel organizations and was named Man of the Year for Travel South, a regional travel organization and received the organization's top award.  He has been a member of the Travel Industry Association since the starting of Southern Living magazine. He served six years as membership chairman and later became a member of the Board of Directors and served four years on the Executive Committee for this organization, which represents all phases of the travel industry in the United States.  He has been active in a number of travel related organizations and is an honorary member of the Georgia Hospitality Association and SKAL, an international travel organization.  He served on the administrative board of Oak Grove United Methodist Church and was a member of the Graydon Sunday School class.  Although he was not a teacher by profession, he was indeed a great teacher.  A teacher by his many examples of love, gentleness, generosity and kindness - always putting others before himself.  His last lesson to all of us was how to brighten the days of others without a spoken word.  Mr. Cunningham is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Lib Cunningham of Decatur; and his extended loving family; daughter, Jan and her husband Ed Butler of Atlanta; son, Greg and his wife Louise Cunningham of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Kendall Butler, Mary Hunter Cunningham, Kate Cunningham; sisters, Elaine Cunningham, Mary Belle Estes, Maxine Weeks, all of Alabama; brothers, Solon Cunningham, Jim Cunningham, and Olin Cunningham, also all of Alabama.  Funeral services will be held at Oak Grove United Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, February 6th with Rev. David Hancock and Dr. Gill Watson officiating.  Interment will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Oak Grove United Methodist Church, his church home for 40 years or Arbor Terrace, 425 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030, "his loving home away from home" for the last 15 months. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the church parlor with the service immediately following.  A. S. Turner & Sons