Dr. David Lane Cunningham

1934 - 2024

Dr. David Lane Cunningham, 90 years old, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2024.

Born February 15, 1934, to Fred Lane and Leone Burnett Cunningham in Pleasant Hill, TN, he graduated from Van Buren County High School in Spencer, TN in 1951.David completed his undergraduate degree at UT Knoxville and his PharmD (1955) and his MD in Neurosurgery (1961) at UT Health Science Center/Memphis.

David practiced neurosurgery with The Memphis Neurosurgical Group and retired from Semmes-Murphey Clinic. Always interested in the latest and most improved ways of caring for patients, David was instrumental in bringing the first Gamma Knife technology to Memphis and served as the medical director of the Memphis Regional Gamma Knife Center. In addition to spearheading new medical techniques, David was committed to practitioner training. He served as a professor at UT School of Medicine and worked tirelessly with other colleagues to provide continued education, training, and research opportunities for doctors through the MERI (Medical Education& Research Institute). As a respected leader in the medical community, Dr Cunningham served as President of the Methodist Hospital board from 1990-1991. He also served on the TN Board of Medical Examiners from 1993-2007, serving as their President from 2000-2007. David also served as a physician in the Air National Guard from 1961-1994 and retired with the rank of Colonel.

David loved to fly airplanes and to race cars as a member of the SCCA. He learned how to fly first in an Aeronca Chief and later flew a Piper Navajo and Beechcraft Baron. His car racing days included a Triumph TR6, Spitfire and a 1967 Camaro over a 12 year period and won several Southeast regional races. His family relished in joining him at races and sharing his passion for cars. David collected and rebuilt antique cars and would delight his grandchildren with drives in his 1938 Buick Special.

An outdoorsman, David excelled in trap shooting where he competed and won a few state championships at different levels. A member of the Memphis Sport Shooting Association (MSSA) for over 20 years, David valued his time at the gun club with his buddies. He also shared his trapshooting skills with his grandchildren and coached some of them for their school competitions.

What David loved most was spending time with his wife, Sara, and their family. David met his "sweetie pie" on a blind date and they married March 31, 1956. David/Dad/ Papa C will be greatly missed by his 4 children, Mark (Shannon), Bruce (Kelly), Dale (Gina), Sheri (Jim), his 15 grandchildren, their spouses and his 15 great-grandchildren. David is preceded in death by his wife, Sara and his sister, Martha Sue and survived by his much-loved brother, John (Anne Marie). His legacy of love for his family, caring and doing for others and always having time to listen or tell a story will always be remembered.

Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 PM Thursday February 29, 2024 at Canale Funeral Directors. A celebration of life honoring David will be held at First Baptist Church of Memphis 200 E Pkwy N Memphis, TN 30112 on Friday, March 1st, with visitation at 10AM and service at 11AM.

The family requests that any memorial donations be made to MERI (Medical Education and Research Institute) or St Jude Children's Research Hospital.