In Memory: Mary J. Cunningham

Mary Jannette Cunningham, 88, of Tampa, Florida, died Monday, March 25.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Florida. A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m.

Mrs. Cunningham was born on June 17, 1930, in Harvel, to Harry and Laura (Brown) Garard. She attended school in Raymond and married Harold Gene Cunningham on June 17, 1957. The Cunninghams resided in Hillsboro following their marriage. The couple relocated several times for Mr. Cunningham's job with Ball Containers.

Mrs. Cunningham was a licensed real estate agent and was also employed as a retail manager. She was passionate about her role as a mother and loved raising her children. Mrs. Cunningham enjoyed attending Morgan horse shows, where the couple had many horses compete and win. The Cunninghams retired to South Carolina, and later to Brooksville, Florida, in 2007. Following her husband's death in 2009, Mrs. Cunningham moved to Tampa to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

Mrs. Cunningham is survived by her children Gina (Dale) Nelson, and Sandra (George) Clinton; granddaughter, Vanessa (Les) Lewis; and great-grandchildren, Brooke and Rhett.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and four siblings, Ruby Hitchings, Bernice Jacobs, Harold Garard, and Forrest Garard.

Memorials may be directed in honor of Mary J. Cunningham, Evergreen Lane Morgans, to the American Morgan Horse Association, "Friend of the Morgan" fund, 4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5, Shelburne, VT 05482. Memorials may also be directed to the AMHA via telephone at (802) 985-4944 or online at www.morganhorse.com.