Ollie James and Roberta Williams Cunningham -- Barber and Homemaker

 

Ollie and Roberta Williams Cunningham

Olive “Ollie” James Cunningham was born on December 23, 1900 in the Canton area of Trigg County, Kentucky.  He was the second of seven children of Elmer Ellsworth “Ell” Cunningham and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham. Ell was a farmer and both he and Rosa Lee were natives of Trigg County.  Ollie was a descendant of Cullen Bridges and Cullen Thomas.

Ollie’s siblings were Myrtle Mabel Cunningham, born in 1898 and married Burnett Finley; George Clyde Cunningham, born in 1904 and married Robbie Bell Bridges; Carmon Aubrey Cunningham, born in 1907 and married Ora Noel and then married Belva Ricks Dixon; Maurine Ell Cunningham, born in 1909 and married Grover Douglas Creamer; Earl Wayne Cunningham, born in 1912 and married Lois Velma Page; and Iva Mavis Cunningham, born in 1915 and married Robert “Jack” Rowen, Jr.

Ollie married Lily Roberta Williams who was born on November 26, 1908 in the Canton area.  Her family had moved from Calloway County to the Canton on the day that Roberta was born.  She was the fourth of eight children born to Thomas Green Williams and Johnnie Vara Thomas Williams.  Thomas was a farmer and was a native of Stewart County, Tennessee.  Johnnie Vara was a native of Trigg County.  Roberta was a descendant of Starkie Thomas.

Roberta’s siblings were Sidney Alma Williams, born in 1901 and married Pink Harrell Guier; Annie Lucille Williams, born in 1903 and married Robert Elliott Malone; Gillis Thomas Williams, born in 1905 and married Kittie Hendricks; Loys Lamont Williams, born in 1910 and married Mary Leta Boyd; Geneva Evelyn Williams, born in 1913 and married Earl Wane Simmons; John Cullen Williams, born in 1915 and married Audrey G. Forrest and then married Vera May Cox Gibbs; and Forest Hilda Williams, born in 1918 and married Gilbert N. Bridges.

After Ollie and Roberta were married, they settled into their first home near Canton.  In 1929 they moved to Cadiz and lived there until 1935 at which time they built a home on the Old Dover Road about one mile from Cadiz.  This was the home they lived in until their deaths.  In 1929, when Ollie was 29 years old, he began his career as a barber.  He worked at the Cadiz Barber Shop in  downtown Cadiz.  He became a partner in the business in 1945 until 1965,  He then went into semi-retirement until 1971 when he built and operated the Cunningham Barber Shop located in the west end of Cadiz.  He worked there part-time up until about one year before his death, having worked over 50 years as a barber. Roberta was a homemaker. Both Ollie and Roberta were among the organizing members of the Thomas-Bridges Association.

Ollie and Roberta were the parents of five children, James Arvin “Jimmie” Cunningham, born in 1926 and married Betty Jo Bridges; Thomas Elwood Cunningham, born in 1927 and married Frances Lucille Wesley; William Herbert Cunningham, born in 1930 and married Shirley Ann Strickland; Patsy Louise Cunningham, born in 1935 and married Joe Morris Woosley; and Robert Glenn Cunningham, born in 1937 and married Linda Faye Pepper.

Ollie died on November 15, 1981 at the age of 80 at the Trigg County Hospital in Cadiz.  He was initially buried in the Green Hill Memorial Gardens in Christian County but was later moved to the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  Roberta died eight days later on November 23, 1981 at the age of 72 at her home.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery.

Ollie and Roberta tombstone

 

LINEAGE:  (Olive James Cunningham was the son of Elmer Ellsworth “Ell” and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham.  Rosa was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Martha Ann was the third child of Peyton and Sarah Ethridge Thomas.  Peyton was the third child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas. Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

(Lily Roberta Williams was the daughter of Thomas Green and Johnnie Vara Thomas Williams.  Johnnie was the third child of William Henry and Sidney Dyer Thomas.  William Henry was the third child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.