Jennette Gay Cunningham, 88, of Mt. Sterling, died Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Born Sept. 26, 1937 in Owingsville, she was the daughter of the late Harold D. Reynolds and Lorena Steele Reynolds. There are some people in this world whose presence is small in stature, but mighty in spirit. That was Jennette. She was the wife of a Hall of Fame coach. Basketball wasn’t just something she watched from the stands, she truly knew the game. There was nothing she enjoyed more than talking basketball, attending games and catching up with past players. It’s believed that she attended over 1500 games, watching and cheering for her husband, son, daughter and grandchildren. She was always “fixie”. She never left the house without her lipstick and blush in hand. She loved her lipstick, and if you knew her well, you probably remember that little detail that made her so uniquely herself. She loved attending horse shows and watching her family show horses. She knew a good road horse or pony when she saw one. It brought her so much joy to watch her family doing what they loved and bringing home a blue ribbon. If you ever had the chance to sit with her over a glass of her famous sweet tea, you know those moments were special. She loved to sit, visit, and talk – the kind of simple conversations that turn into lasting memories. She may have been a small lady, but she loved big. She had a loyal heart and loved her family deeply. That love showed in the way she supported, encouraged and stood by those she cared about. That love will stay with all of us forever.
Survivors include a son, Les R. Cunningham and his wife, Renee of Mt. Sterling; two daughters, Julie Gomes and her husband, Joe of Mt. Sterling and Susan Cunningham of Jeffersonville, Ind.; five grandchildren, Bryce Gomes (Tricia Anderson), Brett Kelley (Brandi), Haley Ogden (Garrett), Brian Miller (Sarah) and Alan Mark Miller; seven great-grandchildren, Vivienne Miller, Kyrstin Alderman, Trey Kelley, Jax Kelley, Gatlin Ogden, Eliot Miller and Maddie May Miller.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Julian Rees Cunningham; daughter, Rebecca Kelley; and brother, HD Reynolds.
Celebration of life will be held 1-3 p.m., Sunday, March 22 at Richardson Funeral Home. Memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home with Reverend Gary Boyd and Reverend Shawn Tolle officiating.
Richardson Funeral Home is caring for all arrangements.
