Helen L. Cunningham

Helen L. Cunningham 81  of South Haven passed away  Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Spectrum’s Butturworth Campus in downtown Grand Rapids.  She was born August 26, 1938 in Dyersburg, Tennessee to Charlie Smith and Lorene Taylor.  Helen was a 1956 graduate of Covert High School.  She worked for GE for 2 ½ years, Bohn Aluminum for 24 years and retired from Covert Schools in ---- after serving as a bus driver for 5 years. Helen loved playing Bingo and going to the casino with her daughter Lorraine.  Family knew that if you wanted to reach her on Sunday it had to be before 9:00 a.m. because started on her daily journey early in the day.  She also loved to travel and visit her family.  She was the glue that kept the family connected to one another.  She was the matriarch of the family.  Helen was the voice of reason and the voice that told you when you were wrong.  Helen was given to us for 81 years and lived a good life, filled with life, love and laughs.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents and a special cousin, Dorothy Taylor Dean.

Surviving is her special companion, Tom Cannon.  Her children – Alvin Greer of South Haven, Walter Smith of Grand Rapids, Lorraine Wilson of South Haven, Debra Madden of South Haven and Binky Cunningham of South Haven.  Seventeen grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.  Aunt – Jeannette Bogan of Dyersburg, Tennessee.  Cousins – Lisa (Mitch), Laura, India and Carlos all of Grand Rapids.  Other family from Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kalamazoo and Holland also survives. 

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven. Funeral services will follow at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Carlos Lopez officiating.  A dinner will follow the services at First Baptist Church (10781 76th St.).

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven, 637-0333.