Wallace Brown Cunningham

WALLACE BROWN CUNNINGHAM passed from his mortal life on earth on August 27, 2021, stepping through that Beautiful Golden Gate into his eternal home in Heaven. Wallace was born in Little Rock, Ark., November 1, 1924, to the late John Bradley and Lora Morris Cunningham. He was preceded in death by both parents; three brothers, Bradley, Morris, and Lawrence; two wives, Elsie and Ruby; son, Lynn Alan; and stepdaughter Sharon Lee Miles Baer. He is survived by his current wife Bonnie; two daughters, Alicia Edmiaston (John) and Karen Colclasure (Tim); son Paul (Glenda); stepson Robert Miles (Joyce); stepdaughter Debra Sullivan (Robbie); 14 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren and one great great grand-daughter. The third of four boys, Wallace grew up during the Great Depression years, developing a dedicated work ethic which would stay with him throughout his life. Beginning as a fifth grader, he worked continually through his high school years at jobs which included selling magazines and newspapers on the downtown streets of Little Rock; delivering groceries, first on a bicycle then in a borrowed truck; and handling assorted other jobs such as killing, plucking and drawing chickens for the meat market at John Alford's grocery store. For this work, he earned as much as $1 per day, money used to help support his family. Later he would say that he also earned a strong aversion to eating chicken for a while. The combined experiences made him realize at an early age that one must work to have the necessities of life. It also earned him recognition among his high school graduating class as the most likely to succeed in business. One comment beneath Wallace's high school yearbook picture was a knowing comment that "Many could profit by following his example." Upon graduating from Little Rock Senior High School in  January 1942, Wallace was hired as a street runner for the Commercial National Bank in Little Rock and remained there progressing on to other jobs until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. when he turned 18 in November 1942. He would proudly serve in the European Theater of Operations during WWII for the next three years, seeing duty in Northern Ireland, England, France, and Germany. Because of his talent for and love of singing, it was not unusual for Wallace to be asked in the gathering of troops or the general public in local areas to sing God Bless America and he always considered it a great honor to do so. In his later life, he would wear his baseball cap showing that he was a proud WWII veteran. Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to Commercial National Bank and continued a career that was interrupted once again by a six-month active duty stint in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict in 1951-52. Afterward, he would climb through the executive ranks of the bank and eventually be elected in 1974 as Senior Vice President and Chairman of the Executive Committee where he would be in charge of the bank's complete lending operations. It was in that position where he would gain the affectionate nickname No-No among his bank colleagues. He would also help with a 1983 merger between Commercial National Bank and First National Bank of Little Rock. The new First Commercial Bank would be the largest bank in the state at the time. When Wallace retired from First Commercial Bank on December 31, 1989, his career had spanned 48 years. However, Wallace's most important service was given to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock for more than 85 years, he served over that time in various capacities, including church treasurer, a teacher for various Sunday School classes, choir director, and as a member of too many committees to count. He also served for 50 years as a Deacon of Antioch and Trustee at the Missionary Baptist Seminary. He exhibited a love of God not only by serving in those roles but also in the way he lived his daily life, proving that the comment beneath his high school yearbook remained so true. Many could profit by following his example. Regardless of the many and varied ways Wallace showed his love of God, none gave him more joy than to come into God's presence with singing. Worshiping God with his singing voice, whether as a choir member, frequent soloist, or part of a duet came naturally to Wallace Cunningham and never got old. Family and friends know that because of his lifelong walk with God, the first words Wallace heard when he entered Heaven was Jesus saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 1 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204. A visitation will take place prior to the service at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. Due to the recent COVID-19 surge in cases, the family requests that those attending please wear masks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204, or the Missionary Baptist Seminary, 5424 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204. To sign the online guest book, please visit, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.