Regina Cunningham Eatman, who was affectionately called “Jeannie”, by family and friends, was born on July 19, 1949 in Cleveland, OH. She was the eldest of three daughters born to the late Robert and Vicie Cunningham. Her sister Susan preceded her in death.

Regina loved her church. She was a member of the Second Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church her entire life.  As a small child, she was brought to church by her mother when the church was on E. 36th and Central.  She confessed Christ at the age of 12 years old and was baptized by the late Rev. B.G. Gilbert. As a teenager, she sang in the Young Adult Choir. Regina was an active member of the Courtesy Committee and eventually became president in 2004 where she served dutifully for the last 20 years.  She was made President Emeritus in 2024 by Pastor Darius J. Jeffries.

In 2010 Regina became the Church Clerk. Everyone can attest that she was well-organized.  She implemented numerous updates and modernizations to the church bulletin, communications system and financial record keeping. These updates helped the Church operate more efficiently.  She served until she was unable to perform the duties. Realizing that it was important to involve the youth of the church, in 2019 she passed the mantel to our current Church Clerk, Sis. Danielle Clark.

Regina loved to read and study the Bible and she faithfully attended Sunday School and Bible Study.  Even though she was unable to attend church, she still continued her daily meditations by reading the “Our Daily Bread” devotional and prayer.

Regina was always a good dancer. As a young teenager, she loved to go to the Phyllis Wheatley Center and dance and sing in talent shows.  She continued that love for dancing into her later years. Regina loved to watch TV, especially comedies like “The Neighborhood” and all of the Tyler Perry comedies. She was also a good cook and was known for her “black-eyed peas and pig feet” that she cooked during the holiday season.

In 1967 she graduated from Glenville High School. She became employed by Ohio Bell in 1969 as a Repair Clerk where she retired after 30 years. Regina married Joel Eatman In 1967 and to this union one daughter, Alethea (Pep), was born.  Alethea, the love of their life, preceded them in death.

She was a warm-hearted and compassionate person who made others feel loved. She was a woman of wisdom, a good listener and a confidant to many.  She was quiet, but not shy and as the Scripture says she was “wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove,” Matthew 10:16

Knowing her health was failing and that she would have to be put into care, Regina told her sister, “Put me somewhere they are going to take good care of me.” That request was granted by placing her under the care of the David Simpson Hospice of the Western Reserve where she passed away.

On the morning of Thursday, November 7, 2024, Regina peacefully went home to be with the Lord.

She leaves to mourn and cherish her loving memory, a devoted and loving sister, Karen Paul; a devoted brother-in-law, William Paul C. Paul, Sr.; two aunts, LueEster Cunningham of Cleveland, OH and Ann Cunningham of Richmond, VA; God-children, Traci and Timothy Mitchell; devoted friend Sandra McLean; The Mitchell Family; her loving Second Mt. Carmel Church family and the Courtesy Committee, a host of cousins and other relatives and friends too numerous to name.

Humbly Submitted,

The Family