One of Havana’s finest will be remembered on Saturday, May 8, at the Havana Shade Tobacco Museum.
Nell Gray Cunningham, who was involved in many community projects and activities that spanned throughout all of Gadsden County, died last year at the age of 93.
In honor of Cunningham’s contributions to the county, the museum will host a Nell Gray Cunningham Appreciation Day on Saturday, at 11 a.m. in the newly dedicated Nell Gray Cunningham Exhibit Room.
The room will display photos of Cunningham’s life, including her wedding album and her school years as a student and a teacher at Havana High School.
A portrait of Cunningham, and a proclamation honoring her, will be displayed on the museum’s Wall of Distinction.
A video featuring Cunningham will play throughout the day.
Her children and grandchildren will be present part of the day.
Cunningham was born and raised in Havana, but later moved to Chattahoochee where she taught school and remained active in the community.
Cunningham raised her family in Gadsden County with her husband, Sam.
After retirement, she moved back to her beloved Havana and worked tirelessly to make it a better place to live.
She was known to quote her mother as saying, “A person should leave this earth in better shape than when they arrived.”
And all who knew Cunningham knew that she lived by those words.
Cunningham was involved in many things, among them was Havana’s year-long Bicentennial Celebration in 2006, the prestigious Price of Freedom veterans memorial at the Havana Community Park, and the Havana History and Heritage Society, where she was a founding member and served as treasurer, fundraising coordinator and executive secretary.
Also, very important to Nell was her love for family, friends, and church.
For more information about this event and the Shade Tobacco Museum, please visit facebook.com/havanahistoryheritage or havanahistoryheritage.portalbuzz.com
The Shade Tobacco Museum is located at 204 Northwest 2nd Street, in Havana.
Nell Cunningham Photo Courtesy of Judy Hickman – Legacy.com
