Jeannie Sivley Cunningham

Jeannie S. Cunningham, 61, of Spartanburg, SC, died Monday, November 14, 2022 at the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center after a short illness.

Born July 16, 1961 in Alvin, Texas to the late Robert Swann Sivley, III, and the late Mary Crenshaw Sivley, she is survived by her husband, Reed L. Cunningham, of Spartanburg, SC; and her sons, Frank H. Cunningham, IV, of Spartanburg, SC and Charles C. Cunningham of Amarillo, Texas. In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by her brother, Richard W. Sivley (Alesia) of Willis, Texas, their son, Zachary Sivley of Ogden, Utah, their daughter, Ashlie Sivley (Baron) Yarborough and son, Benson of Spring, Texas; and by her brother, Robert S. Sivley IV, (Kelly) of Kingwood, Texas; and their sons, Brandon and Connor Sivley; and their daughter, Addison, all of Kingwood, Texas. She was predeceased by her brother, Jack Sydney Williams of Houston, Texas.

After attending the University of Houston and some early sales development work with local industrial conglomerates and several real estate development firms, Jeannie moved to Spartanburg and was married here in 1987. While adjusting to the hills of the Carolinas, she sold desk top publishing systems to local firms during the early days of the computer proliferation and was successful due to her good looks but more importantly, her willingness to teach customers how to actually use those systems. She also enjoyed a brief period in retail sales at Gwen’s, a local boutique, where she used her eye for design and color to guide her faithful customers. A job opportunity took her and her husband to Milan, Italy in the early 1990’s for three years and it was the highlight of her life! While her husband fought through the Italian traffic each day to his office, she and two good friends with husbands in similar situations, immersed themselves in the Italian culture. Experiences ranged from behind the scenes visits to La Scala, lunches in Chamonix with the girls and a week-long cooking course in Venice at the villa of Marcella Hazan, a noted Italian cook. It was magical! Life changed, however, with the wonderful news that she could expect the arrival of her first child in May of 1992. Her most meaningful job had arrived! Jeannie was a devoted mom and nothing was more important to her than her two boys who arrived in good health about 6 years apart. It was the hardest job she ever loved and she was front row for anything they did over the years from field days, poster projects, school plays, Halloween costumes (hers were the best!) or band and orchestra concerts. Little people (and puppy dogs) held a special spot in her heart. Her car always had to have three rows of seats so she could carry as many of the gang as possible to any event. Another job opportunity for her husband took her this time to Thailand in the late 1990’s. She packed up without hesitation during her favorite season of Christmas, but managed to have a tree and presents for her boys thanks to good friends who came to the rescue, turning the hotel room into her living room. Thailand was much different than Milan but she made the best of the tropical climate and new cuisine. It took a while but she found good pizza and chicken nuggets for her boys and was helped by her nanny and dear friend, Tuk, who navigated the food, the culture, and the Thai language to keep her boys safe and well cared for in this new environment. When she came home to Spartanburg and back to her original house, Tuk came with her to help unpack and stayed with the family almost 2 years. Another great adventure had ended but her most important journey as “Mom” continued and picked up speed. Tearful morning departures at Pine Street, continuing illnesses (some significant and some cured with a hug), lost teeth, battle scars, band practice, school awards and graduations with honors were her specialties. College followed with one wearing Orange and one joining the Garnet gang. This transition gave her new opportunities to be “Mom” and she loved every minute of it.

Along the way there were some tough challenges. One cold February day in 2005, she got the results of the tests on that small lump that was not in the right spot and had grown a little bigger. Her efforts to defeat breast cancer were focused and nurtured by her passion to survive for her sons. After the initial procedures were behind her, she negotiated with her doctors so she could go on the school trip to England, Ireland and Scotland with her older son. She started her difficult treatments the day after their return flight landed and she fought hard all the way. She won that one. Nothing pleased her more than time spent with her brothers and other relatives in Texas. Her favorite aunt and uncle had a small ranch in the Hill Country and her brothers were successful businessmen in the Houston area.

The real stars of the show, as you’d expect, were the “little people”. Benson Yarborough, her great nephew now 4 years old, was the apple of her eye. Dressed in cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans with a shiny belt buckle and a hat, he could have asked her for a new truck and she would have written him a check! Her Texas roots run deep and she will be buried in Lampasas, Texas near her grandmother, Lita LaBounty Sivley, who was her early and steadfast mentor.

Jeannie will rest in peace under the Texas sky and feel she has come home once again. Her loss has been sudden and her peaceful yet tragic departure has left a huge wound in many hearts. There is no replacing her warm touch, bright smile, or her gentle spirit but we have the memories of her to keep us moving forward. It would be what she wanted.

We will celebrate her life with a Memorial Service on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 4:00 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 141 Advent Street, Spartanburg SC, 29302.

Donations to honor her life should be made to the Spartanburg Humane Society or to Hatcher Garden or to the charity of your choice.