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Life story

"Helen L. Cunningham 81 of South Haven passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Spectrum’s Butturworth Campus in downtown Grand Rapids. She was born August 26, 1950 in Dyersburg, Tennessee to Charlie Smith and Lorene Taylor. Helen was a 1968 graduate of Covert High School. She worked for GE for 2 ½ years, Bohn Aluminum for 24 years and retired from Covert Schools in ---- after serving as a bus driver for 5 years. Helen loved playing Bingo and going to the casino with her daughter Lorraine. Family knew that if you wanted to reach her on Sunday it had to be before 9:00 a.m. because started on her daily journey early in the day. She also loved to travel and visit her family. She was the glue that kept the family connected to one another. She was the matriarch of the family. Helen was the voice of reason and the voice that told you when you were wrong. Helen was given to us for 75 years and lived a good life, filled with life, love and laughs.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents and a special cousin, Dorothy Taylor Dean.

Surviving is her special companion, Tom Cannon. Her children – Alvin Greer of South Haven, Walter Smith of Grand Rapids, Lorraine Wilson of South Haven, Debra Madden of South Haven and Binky Cunningham of South Haven. Seventeen grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren. Aunt – Jeannette Bogan of Dyersburg, Tennessee. Cousins – Lisa (Mitch), Laura, India and Carlos all of Grand Rapids. Other family from Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kalamazoo and Holland also survives. "