Obituaries » Donald Gregory Cunningham
October 30, 2016
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Mr. Donald Gregory ” Paw Paw” Cunningham 69, of Salisbury, NC. passed away October 30, 2016 at The Baptist Hospital Winston – Salem,NC. Public visitation Thursday November 3, 2016 from 6-7 pm. Funeral service will be held Friday November 4 ,2016 on the campus of Livingstone College Varick Auditorium. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and the service will follow at 12:00 noon. Military rites will follow the service.
Donald G. Cunningham “Paw Paw”, 69, of Salisbury, North Carolina departed this life on October 30, 2016 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Hospital in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Donald was born in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Elliott J. Cunningham and Thelma Minor Cunningham. He was born on July 26, 1947, as the first of 5 children. He was a Big Brother that loved his siblings dearly.
Donald attended Mecklenburg County Schools, where he graduated from Second Ward Senior High School in 1965. Shortly after high school, he was drafted into the United States Army where he traveled the world. He served his last overseas tour in Okinawa, Japan during the Vietnam War. After his last tour he married and served his last 2 years in Fort Meade, Maryland. He received an honorable discharge on November 1, 1971.
He returned to Charlotte, North Carolina with his former wife and had 3 beautiful children. He joined Simfield AME Zion Church, where he served as the Sunday School Superintendent and was a devoted Sunday school teacher and a member of the choir.
Donald was a well-rounded man. He had a strong passion for riding, training and taming horses. He enjoyed golfing, motorcycle riding, fishing, hunting and cooking. He was known for “cooking up” rabbit, squirrel and deer stew just name a few. He was the designated cook of the family, and made sure he had his fish fryer and grill hot for every family occasion.
Donald was a “Jack of all Trades”. He was a talented mechanic and was the supervisor of mechanics for Lance Packing Company and Hills Trucking Company. If it had a motor, he could fix it. He was also the top insurance agent for years while working for a local insurance company. Last, but not least, Donald was an entrepreneur. He owned and operated FINA gas station and the Stop and Shop convenience store in Charlotte, North Carolina. He later accepted a senior role at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Donald relocated to Salisbury, North Carolina where he met Audrey Smith Cunningham. They later married and had a lovely daughter. She became the baby of his children.
He did not stop there. At the age of 46 years old, he enrolled into classes at Livingstone College and graduated at the top of his class at the age of 50 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. He was one of five Presidential Scholars in his graduating class. Donald then opened the well-known “Reserve a Ride”, where he provided transportation services for the Veterans hospital and the City of Salisbury. He was still employed with Livingstone College until the time of his passing. Donald loved the staff and students at Livingstone College and they loved him. He will always be known to the entire town of Salisbury and Livingstone College as “Mr. C”.
Donald was preceded in death by his brothers Ronald Cunningham and Barry Cunningham. He is survived by his wife Audrey Smith Cunningham, his son Ronald “Greg” Cunningham (Ebony) and his 3 daughters Michelle C. DuPree (Palmer Sr.), Donna White and Alyssia Cunningham, mother: Thelma Cunningham, brother: Eric Cunningham and sister: Beverly Cunningham, 10 grandchildren: Brandon White, Asia White, India White, Amber N. DuPree, Quashawn Cunningham, Palmer L. DuPree Jr., Olivia Vaden, Jalynn White .,Chase Brown and Alexis “Ten” Cunningham, Aunts: Earline Davis and Mildred Thomas, nephew and nieces: Tim Cunningham, Tonya Morrison, Trina Crawford, Ebony and Barry Cunningham Jr. He also leaves a host of other relatives and friends.
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