Azer L. Cunningham

Azer Lee Cunningham, 85 of Manhattan, KS, formerly of Kansas City, KS, passed away on April 2, 2020. Azer was born in Morrilton, Arkansas on July 10, 1934, to Rosa Byrd and Herman Garrett. She grew up in Morrilton, Arkansas, and attended the local schools. She graduated from Morrilton High School in 1952. She came to Manhattan in 1979 from Kansas City, Kansas where she lived for 30 years. She married Lee Cunningham on November 21, 1955, and they were divorced in July 1981. Azer came to faith in Christ at the age of 12. She was a long-standing member of the Living Word Church. Azer was so loving in all her ways. So willing to help, and quick to praise. Warm and affectionate in heart and mind, beautiful memories she has left behind. Azer enjoyed being a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a friend. Azer enjoyed talking, “Just like Jeff does.” She had an “otherness attitude” because she was a lover of people. Azer is survived by her two daughters, Renajarett (Ahmad) Abdulrahman, of Fresno, TX; Wandean (Karl) Rivers, of Manhattan, her son, Stevonia (Annette) Cunningham, of Bellvue, NE; 4 sisters, Margaret Jean, Clara, Margrette and Martha; 3 brothers, Robert, Claude and Jerry; 8 grandchildren, Kamilah Cunningham, Sherina Cunningham, Natasha Cunningham-Husband, Harrison (Christopher) Rivers, Lee (Q. Olivia) Rivers, James (Megan) Rivers, Jeffery Harding, and Jonathan (Ashley) Rivers and 9 great-grandchildren, Jazmine Cunningham, Jina' Cunningham, Aleecya Husband, Landon Rivers, Josslyn Rivers, Reese Rivers, Nolan Rivers, Savannah Rivers, and Baby Rivers due this fall. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Minnie Lee, Evelyn, Claudia, and brothers, William, Charles, and Herman Jr. A Celebration of Life Service for Azer Cunningham will be held at 10:00 AM, on July 10, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan, Kansas. Inurnment was at the Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to help with expenses or to the Living Word Church or the Manhattan Public Library Technology Training Center. Arrangements have been entrusted to Carlson's Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.