Myrtle Cunningham, 91, of Franklin, died Sunday, May 8, at a nursing home in Waynesville, NC.

Born in Macon County on February 12, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Franklin Pierce Shields and Minnie White Shields. Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband R. Roy Cunningham to whom she was married to for 67 years; and her brothers John and Elmer Shields and her sister, Nellie Shields Dalton. Myrtle spent her teen and early adult years in St. Petersburg, FL, before returning to her native Macon County. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin throughout her life. Myrtle was well-known for her sense of fashion and design which she shared with the community as a salesperson, for many years at Belks in Franklin, and later, as co-owner with her late husband Roy, of Life Shoe Store in Franklin. Myrtle loved to sew, design hats and prepare food for the sick. "Myrtle was deeply loved by friends and family, " her family said.

She is survived by her daughter, Jeana Brown and son-in-law George Brown of Clyde; her sister, Rita Shields Stepenson of Deltona, FL; two stepbrothers and two stepsisters; four grandchildren, Kevan Brown of Boulder, Colorado, Derric Brown, Shawn Brown and Cyrena Goodwin of Haywood County; and four great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. James Hart and Rev. Bob Abel will officiate. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Macon Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Shawn Brown, Derric Brown, Kevan Brown, Larry Goodwin, Nolan Goodwin and R.L. Cunningham.

Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church Street, Franklin, NC 28734, Clyde Central United Methodist Church, PO Box 8, Clyde, NC 28721 or Hospice of Haywood County, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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