Taylor Funeral Home

Obituaries
John Joyner Cunningham, Sr.
Date of Death or Service Oct 10, 2012
John Joyner Cunningham, Sr.
share
Funeral Mass for Mr. John Joyner Cunningham, Sr. age 87 of Nashville, TN was held on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 at 11:30 AM at St. Henry Catholic Church in Nashville. For those desiring, Memorials may be made to the St. Patrick�s School in McEwen, St. Henry�s Church or to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or St. Cecilia Dominican Sisters. Mr. Cunningham, retired Executive Vice President of his family�s business Robert Orr/Sysco Co. until his retirement in 1983, died peacefully at his home Wed. evening, Oct. 10, 2012 after a brief illness. He was born Jan. 29, 1925 in Nashville to Annie Gilmore and Issac Walton Cunningham, Sr. He attended parochial and public schools as well as Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and Peabody College in Nashville. He married the former Dorothy Taylor in Dec. 1946. He was a member of the U. S. Army Air Corps in World War II, flying 35 combat missions over Japan; and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. A former Grand Knight of the Nashville Council 544 of the Knights of Columbus, he served as Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He received the honor of a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI. He was an Affiliate of the Daughters of Charity. He has served on various boards including, Catholic Charities of TN, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Catholic Youth Organizations, Goodwill Industries, Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, TN Agri. Industry Board with the TN Dept. of Corrections, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) Birmingham, AL, Lifetime member of the Father Ryan High School Board of Trustees, and the Vanderbilt Peabody Development Board. He received the Human Relations Award of the ;National Conference of Christians and Jews, Nashville Chapter. He w2as past President of the Tennessee Wholesale Grocers Assoc., President of Big Brothers of Nashville, President of Serra International, and President of the Melrose Civitan. He was a member of the Nashville area Chamber of Commerce and a 50 year member of the American Legion. In 1984 he served as Foreman of the Davidson County Grand Jury. He was elected University of Notre Dame Man of the Year in 1979. For 40 years he served in every facet of this family�s business the Robert Orr/Sysco Co. He was preceded in death by his Son; John Joyner Cunningham, Jr. His Sister, Mary Cunningham (Nick) Ford, His Brother, Walton (Bud) Cunningham, Jr. He is survived by his Wife of 65 years; Dorothy Taylor Cunningham of Nashville, TN, His Son; Mark A. (Beth) Cunningham, Sr. of Dickson, TN, His Grandson; Mark A. (Nikki) Cunningham, Jr. , His Granddaughters; Christine, Emily, Katie, Maggie and Abby Cunningham, His Great Grandchildren; Hayley, Natalie and John Richard Cunningham all of Dickson, TN His Sister, Anne Cunningham ( Joe) Maddux of Nashville, TN, Numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
horseherse

Recent Obituaries

Other Links

About the Site

Taylor Funeral Home, Inc. has endeavored to provide the most up-to-date information for the families we serve. We trust that you will find the information listed on this website to be of value to you.