Mary Elizabeth Poole Cunningham

A celebration of the life of Mary Poole Cunningham, 108 years old, who died November 10, 2022, will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sumter, South Carolina, Thursday, November 17, at 2 pm, conducted by pastors, Rev. Joseph James and Rev. Reginald Thackston.

Mrs. Cunningham was one of six daughters of J. Lee and Ruth Poole and was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on March 8, 1914. She graduated from Greenville public schools and attended classes at Greenville Woman’s College before marrying her high school sweetheart, The Rev. Doctor Francis T Cunningham, who served as a Methodist pastor in the South Carolina Conference for 40 years.

Mrs. Cunningham lived in many parsonages with their family of four daughters. She was active in churches where her husband was appointed which included Greenville, Anderson, Inman, Laurens, Sumter, Rock Hill, Columbia, and Spartanburg.

Mary Cunningham was an avid gardener, active in the state Garden Clubs for over 60 years and a National Flower Show Judge.

After her husband’s death in 1974, she moved to Lake Junaluska, North Carolina and was involved in beautification projects for twenty years, winning state and national awards. Her special interest was the Rose Walk. In appreciation of her devotion to beautification, she was awarded the prestigious award of Chief Junaluska in 1991.

In 1994, Mrs. Cunningham moved to Covenant Place in Sumter and continued her interest in gardening. She was a member of Poinsett Garden Club and served on the Sumter Garden Council.

In 1995, she represented South Carolina at The White House Conference on Aging in Washington, DC, as an appointed delegate where she voiced her desire for death with dignity for all aging persons.

In 2015, Mrs. Cunningham was honored by Sumter Volunteers’ Organization for “Outstanding contributions to the history of Sumter County”.

Mrs. Cunningham was a devoted member of Trinity United Methodist Church and active in the United Methodist Women. During her years as a pastor’s wife, she taught Sunday school classes and continued doing so at Trinity UMC.

Surviving are her daughters: Harriett Plowden of Pawleys Island, Mary Frances Thomas and husband, Thomas of Rock Hill; Betty Hornsby and her husband, Ben of Roswell, Georgia.

Also surviving are grandchildren: Beth Corrigan, Ned Albright, Jr, Priscilla Duffy, Will Hornsby, Wyatt Hornsby, and spouses. She is also survived by five great grandchildren: Caitlin Corrigan Adkins, Sophie Duffy, Holland Duffy, Alex Hornsby, Andrew Hornsby, Noah Hornsby, and great, great grandchild Samson Robert Adkins.

Mrs. Cunningham was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Francis Cunningham, daughter Priscilla Paul, grandson Robert Plowden, son-in-law, Brigadier General Robert B Plowden, sisters Emma Lee Furches, Velma Moore, Nell Brownlee, Irene Meadors, and Carol White.

Interment of ashes will be held in Springwood Cemetery in Greenville, South Carolina, at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 West Liberty Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, or Covenant Place Hourly Employee Gift Fund, 2825 Carter Road, Sumter South Carolina, 29150 or Lake Junaluska Assembly, Box 67, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina 28745.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Elizabeth Poole Cunningham, please visit our floral store.