Dr. Michael John Cunningham, 56, of Lexington, died Wednesday, October 22, 2008 in the Stonewall Jackson Hospital.

He was born November 22, 1951 in Boston, Massachusetts, a son of the late James George Cunningham and Pauline Laschober Cunningham.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Cunningham.

Dr. Cunningham was a cum laude graduate of Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1970-1974) and St. Louis University Medical School (1974-1978).

He served his Family Practice residency at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, SC (1978-1981) and joined Buena Vista Medical Associates (1981-2008).

Dr. Michael Cunningham volunteered for the Rockbridge Area Free Clinic since it opened in 1992.

He joined the Stonewall Jackson Hospital Medical Staff in 1981 and served on the Board of Directors (1988-1997) and on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors from 1991-1997.

Dr. Cunningham was a contract physician at the Stonewall Jackson Hospital Emergency Room from 1981-2000.

As a member of the Rockbridge Medical Society, he was on the Medical staff executive board from 1988-1991 and was Chief of Staff at the Stonewall Jackson Hospital in 1991. He served as Medical Examiner for Rockbridge County from October, 1981 - October, 2008.

He was a member of the Rockbridge American Cancer Society from 1992-2000 and the Rockbridge Community Mental Health Board from 1983-1085.

Dr. Cunningham was preceptor for the University of Virginia School of Medicine where he received the Outstanding Preceptor of the year award from UVA Medical School 1996-1997.

He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Rockbridge Area Hospice from 1999-2000 and was the Medical Director 2000-2008.

He was the recipient of the first Hospice Hero of the Year award in 2005. He was Operational Medical Director (OMD) for the Central Shenandoah Valley EMS from 1985-1992. He was the OMD for the Buena Vista Rescue Squad from 1983-1993. He was a member of the Buena Vista Rescue Squad Board of Directors from 2006-2008.

Surviving are his wife, Sara M. Cunningham; three children: Lee Cunningham, Ryan Cunningham and Jenna Cunningham, all of Lexington; a brother, Daniel Cunningham and wife, Hope, of St. Louis, MO; special friends: Tim Garvey, Birmingham, AL; Charlie Scala of Chicago, IL and Chris O'Reilly-Green of Modesto, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Rockbridge Area Hospice, P. O. Box 948, Lexington, VA 24450 or FOR Swimming, Inc., P. O. Box 1552, Lexington, VA 24450.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Jackson Memorial Hall, VMI, Lexington.

The family will receive friends at Moody Hall, VMI, immediately following the service.

Arrangements by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Virginia.