Family Life
Harold R. Cunningham was born to Edward Rice Cunningham and Eula M Porter Cunningham on November 19, 1918. He was the second child in the family. His family lived in their house in Meridian Ward 2, Lauderdale County, Mississippi in between the years of 1920 and 1930. His family's church of primary attendance was the First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Cunningham attended the Delta Cotillion Club New Year dance at the Elks Club, as he was a member of the club at the time. This is not surprising, as his family was very active in the community.
His father Edward, was born in Shannon, Lee County, Mississippi on February 12, 1877. In 1880, his family had five other children, all other than Edward. He was a WWI veteran, registering for the draft. Edward worked as a railroad conductor in 1918. He died on July 27, 1941 at 64 years old. He passed one year before his son would graduate from bombardier school.
Harold's mother, Eula, was born on September 18, 1894 in Mississippi. She died on February 18, 1985 at 90 years of age. While she was not present in 1920, Evie Porter, the sister of Eula, became a resident in the house before 1930.
While both Cunningham and his parents were born in Mississippi, his parents had at least one parent that was born outside of Mississippi. Edward's father was born in Texas, and his mother was born in Tennessee. Eula's father was born in Mississippi, and her mother was born in Alabama.
Neither of Cunningham's parents attended school, but both he and his sister did. Cunningham went to college for the first year. He was single at the time of his deployment. Cunningham's father, Edward, worked as a Freight Conductor for a nearby railroad, while his mother remained unemployed, presumably taking care of her two children at home. For the time that she stayed there, Evie was employed selling cold cuts, cheeses, salads, and unconventional or foreign foods. Harold managed to get all the way through his first year of college before being drafted at 21 into the Army.
Harold's elder sister, Edwina D. Cunningham, was born in the year 1914. She was born in the same city as Harold, and both resided in Lauderdale County with their parents as teens. Edwina graduated form Meridian High School. She received higher education at Belhaven College and was chosen to represent the college in the Mississippi State Christian Endeavor Convention in Meridian.
Edwina got married to Scott Francis Hubert in June of 1936 at First Presbyterian Church, a facility that she was very active in. Hubert was a successful broker, but the couple still stayed with Edwina's parents after their honeymoon.
His father Edward, was born in Shannon, Lee County, Mississippi on February 12, 1877. In 1880, his family had five other children, all other than Edward. He was a WWI veteran, registering for the draft. Edward worked as a railroad conductor in 1918. He died on July 27, 1941 at 64 years old. He passed one year before his son would graduate from bombardier school.
Harold's mother, Eula, was born on September 18, 1894 in Mississippi. She died on February 18, 1985 at 90 years of age. While she was not present in 1920, Evie Porter, the sister of Eula, became a resident in the house before 1930.
While both Cunningham and his parents were born in Mississippi, his parents had at least one parent that was born outside of Mississippi. Edward's father was born in Texas, and his mother was born in Tennessee. Eula's father was born in Mississippi, and her mother was born in Alabama.
Neither of Cunningham's parents attended school, but both he and his sister did. Cunningham went to college for the first year. He was single at the time of his deployment. Cunningham's father, Edward, worked as a Freight Conductor for a nearby railroad, while his mother remained unemployed, presumably taking care of her two children at home. For the time that she stayed there, Evie was employed selling cold cuts, cheeses, salads, and unconventional or foreign foods. Harold managed to get all the way through his first year of college before being drafted at 21 into the Army.
Harold's elder sister, Edwina D. Cunningham, was born in the year 1914. She was born in the same city as Harold, and both resided in Lauderdale County with their parents as teens. Edwina graduated form Meridian High School. She received higher education at Belhaven College and was chosen to represent the college in the Mississippi State Christian Endeavor Convention in Meridian.
Edwina got married to Scott Francis Hubert in June of 1936 at First Presbyterian Church, a facility that she was very active in. Hubert was a successful broker, but the couple still stayed with Edwina's parents after their honeymoon.