Helen Larayne Stinson Cunningham

Published 9:53 am Thursday, December 15, 2022

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Helen Larayne Stinson Cunningham, age 84, formerly of Bainbridge, Ga., went to be with her Lord on Monday, December 5, 2022. She was born on August 11, 1938, the daughter of Aubrey Ray and Bessie May Wills Stinson.

Rainnie, as she was known by her family, was educated in the public schools of Washington, D.C., and graduated from a private high school. She attended and graduated from a two-year Journalism School.

She was first employed as a bookkeeper for a private firm. She then worked as a secretary for two physicians, and later as a secretary for an insurance agency.

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Rainnie was married to her husband, John H. Cunningham, in September 1963. After their marriage, she worked as a salesperson for a fruit farm, and later as the secretary for a large Baptist Church.

During her very fruitful life, Rainnie became an accomplished quilter and a traditional rug hooker. The quality of her quilts and rugs received national acclaim. One of her quilts won 3rd place in a national quilt show. Some of her rugs were published in a national rug hooking magazine, and one of her rugs won the grand championship in a hand craft show.

In their 59 plus years of marriage, Rainnie was a constant companion, advisor, counselor, friend, and help mate to her husband, John. She was a mother to two children, and three step children.

She leaves behind, in addition to her husband John, a sister, Katherine Deborah Stinson Hessmer, daughter, Tammera D. Manis Letterman of Appomattox, Va., son Roger Henry Cunningham of Bainbridge, Ga., two step daughters, Mary Jean Cunningham Petrie of Las Vegas, Nev., Evelyn Jane Cunningham Higgins (Jim) of Raleigh, N.C., and a step son, John Michael Cunningham (Lynn) of San Pedro, Dominican Republic. She also leaves behind two granddaughters, Audrey Michelle Manis Phelps (Ben) of Appomattox, Va., and Mary Anna Cunningham Chapman (Kebo) of Bainbridge, Ga., and nine step grandchildren. In addition, she leaves behind eight great grandchildren, and ten step great grandchildren. She was pre deceased by a sister, Beverly Ann Stinson Isemann, a granddaughter, Jennifer Lynn Manis Reeves, and a grandson, Michael Aubrey Manis.