James R. Cunningham

Obituary

James Roosevelt Cunningham, “Jack” was born on January 30, 1936, in Kershaw, South Carolina to Jack Cunningham Sr. and Hattie McCain Cunningham (both deceased) in Kershaw, SC. He attended Westside High School in South Carolina. Jack was the eldest of four children: Joe Cunningham, Floral Park, NY, Ernest Cunningham (deceased), Englewood, NY. and Jessie Goodhope (deceased), Hampton, VA. Jack came to New York in 1958, he worked as a supervisor for J.H. Rowdes from 1959-1976 until the company closed. Jack then worked for the school for the Blind until he retired in 2000 and moved to Newport News VA.

Jack LOVED baseball! The New York Mets was his favorite team. If the Mets were playing, you could guarantee that he was watching the game. He also enjoyed taking pictures, especially of his family. He always had a Kodak instant camera sitting around to take a picture of whomever came to visit. Jack would take pictures all day long. He loved telling his infamous favorite childhood stories, even if he had told them a million times before. Jack had a memory like no other, he could remember dates, time, the day of the week and event happened and where an event took place. It was amazing how he could remember entire details of what seems to be insignificant to others. He would remember like it was yesterday and we would sit around, laughing and joking with him. He would start with “In 1959, such and such happened”, we would all burst out laughing. Yea, there was never a shortage of laughs and jokes when you were around Jack. In addition, if you were around him, you would never leave his home hungry because he would insist that you had something to eat-even if he had to take you out to eat. Jack was always trying to feed you. He loved his family and would do anything from them, especially his grandkids. He lived for them! Jack was quiet, he stayed mainly to himself. He watched his baseball, cooked his favorite meals. He was content with living a simple life. But if his family was around him, he was very happy and wouldn’t want them to leave. Simply put, Jack was a kind man with a gentle heart.

James Roosevelt Cunningham departed this life on Monday, June 12, 2017. He leaves behind his three children , Seven grand-children, two great-grands, One living brother, two sister-in-laws, one son-in-law, a life long friend, a host of aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Jack will be missed dearly, but he will live on in our heart.

Our star player has retired! LET’S GO METS!

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