Ethel Mae "Thomas" Cunningham

On March 14, 1934, one of God's angels was entrusted into the hands of Fred Thomas, Sr. and Curley Cooley-Thomas with a precious baby girl whom they named Ethel Mae Thomas. She was the fourth of nine children born and raised in Shubuta, Mississippi. She departed this life on September 10, 2025 in Shubuta, Mississippi after years of illness.

She joined The St. Matthew Baptist Church, Shubuta, Mississippi as a young child and remained a member for many years. Ethel Mae attended school here in Shubuta, Mississippi. She met and married her husband, Grady Cunningham. She spent most of her years taking care of her elderly and ill mother and father. Ethel Mae laid the foundation for a life marked by diligence and care for others. She leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion in her daughter, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred Sr. and Curley Thomas; her husband Grady Cunningham; her son Larry Cunningham; four sisters: Willie B. (Walter) Bounds, Minnie B. (David) Boyd, Bertha Mae (George) Husband and Clarice Spencer; two brothers: Joe Lee (Mary Jo) Thomas and Cleveland Thomas.

She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter: Jackie Lang of Shubuta, MS; one granddaughter: Kenesha Lancaster of Waynesboro, MS; one grandson: Mykelti D. Cunningham of FL; one great granddaughter: My'zaira Cunningham of FL; two brothers: Curtis (Vicky) Thomas of Baltimore, MD and Fred (Ann) Thomas of Loudonville, NY, one brother-in-law George Spencer Sr; and a special nephew/brother: Willie James (Frankie Mae) Thomas of Albany, NY; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will occur Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM at St. Matthew Baptist Church in Shubuta, with Rev. Advail McKenzie officiating. Interment will follow at Davenport Cemetery.

The viewing will be held Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at St. Matthew Baptist Church.