[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF CHERYL CUNNINGHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2015

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I ask for the House's attention 
today to recognize the retirement of Cheryl Cunningham from my staff.
  Cheryl was born on August 5, 1945 in Akron, Ohio to parents Dorothy 
Newhouse Smith and Charles Coker Smith. She had an older brother named 
Charles Huntley Smith.
  Her family moved to Union Springs, Alabama, when Cheryl was two years 
old and she grew up in this small town and farming community and 
graduated from Union Springs High School. Cheryl attended Troy State 
College and Huntingdon College following graduation from high school.
  Cheryl started her career working for the State of Alabama in the tax 
division. She married James C. Cunningham Jr., and had three children, 
James (Todd) Carter Cunningham III (deceased), Leigh-Ellen and Heather 
Farrish Cunningham. She is the proud grandmother of six grandchildren 
including: James C. Ellison (Casey), Charles Tyler Ellison, Earl W. 
Reed (Trey), Anne Carter Reed, Michael M. Hodges Jr. and Hunter James 
Hodges.
  Cheryl later worked at General Motors in Montgomery before buying 
their first farm and moving to Macon County, Alabama in 1972. Cheryl 
became involved in the community of Franklin and was part of the 
successful effort to incorporate the Town of Franklin in 1977. She 
served as the first town clerk under Mayor Robert Perry.
  Later, Cheryl was hired by Alice Hendon, Tax Assessor of Macon County 
and by her successor, Ed Corbitt, Revenue Commissioner to serve in 
their offices as well as serving as Executive Secretary to Macon County 
Commission Clerk, George Austin in Tuskegee, Alabama.
  Cheryl became very active in the Macon County Republican Club and 
served as County Chairman for several years. She also served as County 
Coordinator in Macon County for an unsuccessful run by Emory Folmar for 
Governor of Alabama. She was appointed by Governor Guy Hunt to serve as 
Chairman of the Macon County Board of Registrars and served many years 
under Gov. Hunt and Gov. Fob James. She also served as President of the 
State Board of Registrars for two terms.
  In 2000, Cheryl was hired as a Field Representative for Congressman 
Bob Riley working for him until he was elected Governor of Alabama in 
2002. She continued to work for the Third District in my office and 
will retire on July 31.
  Cheryl served as a member of the Alabama Federation of Republican 
Women and was later elected as District 3 Director. During her tenure, 
the first women's Republican club in District 3 was established, the 
Republican Women of East Alabama.
  The Cunningham family loves farming and caring for animals. At 
present, they have two dogs, three horses, two cats, and a pet goat, 
Bentley. In the past, they have had bob cats, deer, skunks, raccoons, 
an opossum, flying squirrels and a 650-pound pig named Blossom.
  Cheryl attends First United Methodist Church in Auburn, Alabama, is a 
member of the Macon County Farmer's Federation, Alabama Forestry 
Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Sunset Point I 
Condominium Association at Lake Martin.
  Cheryl and her husband continue to give back in Macon County. One of 
their biggest joys is running the Todd Cunningham Christmas Memorial 
Fund in honor of their late son. Last year they served over 38 families 
in Macon County that would have not had gifts for their children at 
Christmas.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing a great lady and thanking 
her for her public service, philanthropic spirit and the great work she 
did for the Third District. Cheryl, we will miss you, but 
congratulations on your retirement.

                          ____________________