Cheryl Virginia Cunningham's Obituary
Cheryl Virginia Cunningham, a sharp-witted, dog loving, diehard LSU fan and lifetime educator, passed away on February 20, 2024.
Cheryl was born on November 16, 1949 in Nameoke, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Anderson Cunningham and Elizabeth Jane Miner Cunningham, and she is survived by one sister, Ann Miner Cunningham. Cheryl is also survived by her two most trusted and faithful companions, her beloved pups, Cooper and Wrigley.
From a young age Cheryl embraced music, playing the flute in elementary school in New Orleans. Her musicianship flourished and grew throughout high school and ultimately, Cheryl was invited to play the flute in the All-State Band.
Cheryl also possessed a keen and unflappable intellect. She attended LSU, majoring in history education, and began teaching upon graduation in 1967. After completing her master’s degree in history education, Cheryl shifted her focus to a legal career. She attended Loyola Law School and later practiced with Liskow and Lewis Law Firm. However, the call of teaching echoed deeply in Cheryl’s heart and eventually drew her away from a very successful career and back to her true passion, education.
Cheryl spent many years at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans as both an administrator and teacher. Cheryl knew that the life of the high school student was not limited to the classroom, so she supported her students in all aspects of their school life. She was particularly popular with the high school kids because as a huge baseball fan, Cheryl attended every home game they played. The players grew to expect her presence so much, they would look for her in the stands.
Cheryl later finished her career at Christ Episcopal School in Covington, LA where she taught in the social studies department and also single-handedly transformed the school’s yearbook into a beautiful keepsake and comprehensive record of a year in the life of the school. It was Cheryl who titled the book “The Legacy” and her work with yearbook will no doubt be a significant part of her own legacy at Christ Episcopal.
No matter where Cheryl taught, her students felt seen, known, and cared for. Cheryl pushed kids to be the best version of themselves and refused to allow them to settle for less. She expected excellence but also understood the difficulties of being a teenager. Cheryl was also a valued colleague—never failing to lend humor and wisdom to every problem that needed solving.
Cheryl never stopped learning. She was a voracious reader—always seeking new ideas, new understandings of people and the world. And her hope was to inspire that love in others—and not just in her students, but every human she encountered. Even in her final days, Cheryl was giving geography lessons to her doctors based on their last names.
Cheryl will be missed by all who knew her, but maybe most by her canine companions. Her impact on those she taught and taught with is unmistakable and in that way, Cheryl lives on.
A private celebration of life will be held later this year.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The Cunningham family invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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