Mother Callie Cunningham was born in Noxubee County, Mississippi, to Bessie Henley Conner and Wilson Conner, Sr. on October 10, 1929. She confessed hope in Christ at an early age and joined New Baptist Temple Church in Columbus, MS, and later attended Mount Ephraim Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, under the leadership of Dr. R.L. White, Jr. Her early education included Concord School, and she continued her educational studies at the Neighborhood House Adult Learning Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Serenity Adult Day Center in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Mother Callie Cunningham was preceded in death by her husband, Sammie Lee Cunningham; her mother, Bessie Henley Conner; and father, Wilson Conner, Sr.; five brother; three sisters; one daughter; and one great-grandchild.

She leaves to cherish nine children, Annette Leigh (Roosevelt), Sammie Conner (Ethel), Rev. Therman Cunningham (Melodie), Lula Harris (James), Betty White (Warren), Ellis Cunningham, Norma White (William), Maurice Cunningham (Vernita) and Dr. Amanda C. Ducksworth. She leaves a strong legacy of 21 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. She leaves four brothers, Willie C. Conner and James Conner (Lucy) of California, Dancy Conner (Jewell) and Erzie Conner (Louise) of Ohio; and one sister-in-law, Geraldine Williams Petty of Columbus, Mississippi; and a host of nieces and nephews.