Henry Smith Cunningham, M.D., passed from this life Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, after a courageous struggle with colon carcinoma. Memorial service: 6 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, 800 W. Fifth St., Fort Worth. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts be made to the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, on line at www.fwplf.org or at 500 W. Third St., Fort Worth, Texas 76102; or the Crystal Heart Gala, Texas Health Huguley, Box 6115, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. Henry Smith Cunningham was born May 8, 1957, in Cadiz, Ky., the third of three children born to Shirley Allen and Marie Curlin Cunningham. He graduated valedictorian of Trigg County High School. Henry participated in cross-country, basketball and band, all four years of high school. He played baseball for one year. Henry was prepared to give football a try his freshman year. He played both the trumpet and bass trumpet. In basketball, he was a left-handed point guard. He possessed great intelligence, knowledge of the game, leadership skills, and was physically strong. He was selected All-District his senior year even though he scored just a few points in the district tournament. The coaches throughout the district recognized his many contributions to Trigg's team. Pursuing his love of science, he earned his BS degree in chemistry at Vanderbilt University in 1979. While attending Vanderbilt, he was a true Commodores sports fan and the girls' basketball team. Henry was the first basketball coach for the university's intercollegiate varsity sport. He continued his education at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated in 1983. After completing his residency training and fellowship in pulmonary subspecialty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 1988, he joined the medical practice at Pulmonary Consultants of Texas in Fort Worth in 1988, which is now known as Texas Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants. His hospital leadership positions included president of the Huguley Hospital medical staff in 1995 and 1996; chair of Huguley Hospital Physician Well-being Committee 2005-2010; member of the Adventist Health System Corporate Physicians Committee; Huguley Memorial Hospital Physician Health and Well-being Committee chair; Harris Methodist Southwest Hospital Community Board member; and Kindred Fort Worth Southwest Hospital medical staff president. He will be remembered for his pursuit and continued support of patient care, quality health care and medical staff leadership. Henry was a sports fanatic and his life cycles were measured by the sport seasons -- fall football, winter basketball, then NCAA college tournament, spring and summer baseball, and soccer. He was a huge supporter of Kentucky and Louisville basketball, Vanderbilt--in every sport, the Dallas Mavericks, TCU (if not playing Kentucky or Vanderbilt) and the Texas Rangers. Henry and his brother were taken to church by his parents and were faithful members at Cadiz Baptist Church. In later years, he rededicated his life to Christ and joined New Life Fellowship in Arlington. Dr. Cunningham was preceded in death by his parents, Marie Curlin and Shirley Allen Cunningham; and newborn sister, Molly Sue Cunningham. Survivors: Henry Smith is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Linda Fairries Cunningham, M.D. They were blessed with two sons, Brandon Adolphus Cunningham and Thomas Ricardo Cunningham. Also left behind to cherish his memory are his brother, Shirley Allen Cunningham; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mamie and Namon Fairries of Montgomery, Ala.; brother-in-law, Bertram Ricardo Fairries of Washington, D.C.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Andrea Fairries and Eugene Tyrone Moore of Atlanta Ga.; niece, Akaiyah J. Moore; nephews, Chris Allen Cunningham, Weldon Taylor Cunningham, Shirley A. "Trae" Cunningham III and J.M. Christen Cunningham, all of Kentucky, and Armon Jamal Moore of San Francisco, CA; and a host of cousins, extended family, dear friends, former classmates, and former patients.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.3