Sonya Lynette Cunningham was born on March 9, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the parents of Ora Lee and Habron Cunningham. Sonya completed her formal education at Washington High School and later continued her education at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Sonya was the oldest of seven children including four brothers, Farrante Cunningham, Aaron Cunningham, Terrell Cunningham, and Henry Wesley, and two sisters, Ferronda Cunningham and Takarada Beene.

Sonya worked as a bartender for many years and enjoyed dancing, listening to music, singing, playing cards, and cooking.

Sonya Lynette Cunningham departed this life on March 8th, 2022, just hours before her 59th birthday. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Ophelia King, Richard Taylor, Frank and Ethel Cunningham, her sister, Ferronda Cunningham, and her mother, Ora Lee Cunningham.

She leaves to cherish her memory two sons, Gary Smith Jr. and Quamarrye Cunningham, one daughter, Shekinah Cunningham, and a number of loving siblings, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, family, and Friends.