Nora Lee Graggs Cunningham was born on November 4, 1932. Nora Lee was affectionately known to many as MaDear. She was the beloved daughter of the late Abe Graggs and Ledell “Mama Lee” Parker, loving mother of Dora Williams Wilder, and devoted wife to the late Booker T. Cunningham. She was also nurtured by her late aunts, Nan and Evelyn.
Nora Lee was a native daughter of Wagerville, Alabama (Cortelyou). She moved to Mobile, Alabama during her secondary school years and graduated from her beloved Central High School in 1950. After spending years working at Mobile Infirmary, MaDear moved to Chicago, Illinois for career and financial advancement. She was employed as a dietician for over thirty years at North Western Memorial Hospital. She continued her education in Chicago at Malcom X College. Her credentials and experience helped her advance to the position of supervisor in the nutrition department. MaDear was an avid reader and enjoyed exploring God’s Word. She was always excited about learning and stressed the importance of “getting understanding”. She would always stress, “My mama told me: Them that’s got shall have; them that’s not shall lose; So the Bible said and it still is news. Mama may have; Papa may have, but God bless the child that’s got his own...” (Billie Holiday, 1939). She would emphasize: “You got to have your own, baby!”
MaDear had a peculiar way about herself. She was not the typical grandmother. She had a passion for her people, art, jazz, world culture, political science, and biblical studies. She would sip her tea or coffee and challenge you to a debate about any current issue. MaDear was our militant mother. Her zealous nature was rooted in her belief in the freedom and justice she discovered in Christ Jesus. She was a faithful bible study student at Hope Chapel, Williams Chapel, Little Rock, and Mt Hebron. She was a member of each of these churches- supporting in ministry as a deaconess and an usher. She challenged everyone to look to the “red letters”. MaDear trusted God saying, “...Thy will be done...” until she lifted her hands and slept away.
MaDear was surrounded in love by her daughter, Dora Lee (Rev. Nathaniel Jr) Wilder; grandchildren Doritha, Natalie, Nathaniel III, Nadette, Leonora, Edmond, Sean, and Charlotte; great-grandchildren Brittany (Frederick) Brown, Roderick (Keidreanna), JerMarkus, Jeremy, Keyonna, Christian, Angela, Ebony, Mack, Malcolm, JaKayla, Lattreal, Makhiyah, Ahja, Edmond Jr; and great-great granddaughter, Nia’Imani; other family and friends, Janie McCaskill; Mrs. Dot; Augusta Bradley, Sandra, James, Johnathan, Diane, Curtis, Debra, Bobbie, Arcola, Fitzie, Linda, Charles, Shirley, Larry, Barbara, Evie, Joyce, Mrs. Owens, Ms. Marilyn, the Wildcats of Central High School, and many more.
Precious memories of MaDear will be cherished by us all. We will forever treasure Nora Lee Graggs Cunningham- Our Mother; Our Friend; Our MaDear... Thy will be done!
Home going service will be held 10 am, September 8, 2018 at Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church (1644 Wolf Ridge Road). Interment will follow at the Lewis Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery (Wagerville, AL).

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