James E Cunningham

Jack Cunningham, 81, a resident of McDonald, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend passed away Wednesday, March 26, at the family residence. He was a member of South Cleveland Church of God where he was a member of the Primetimers. Mr. Cunningham was a Gideon and a well known local race car driver. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy and a veteran of Korea serving in the U.S. Air Force. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Ina Mae Cunningham; brothers: Bill Cunningham and Tommy Cunningham. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joyce Raines Cunningham of McDonald; 2 children: Tracy Blake and husband, Mark of Greensboro, NC and Alyson Bird and husband, David of Etowah; 6 grandchildren: Andrew Simons, Hayley Simons, Jonah Bird, Daniel Bird, Rose Bird and Jack Bird and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Chris Moody officiating. Interment will follow with military honors in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Tony Delay, Jeff Rains, Martin Griffith, Charlie Defriese, Bill Fryar, Clayton Cunningham, Greg Cunningham, Tony Cunningham and Jason Gilbert will serve as pallbearers. His family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday prior to the service at the funeral home. The family requests memorials be made to South Cleveland Church of God, P.O. Box 4166, Cleveland, TN, 37320 or the Gideons International, P.O. Box 286, Charleston, TN 37310-0286.