Historical February 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On December 6th, 1941, the day before the United States entered World War II, the Cunningham family—children Celestine, Robert, Virginia and their parents—moved into a large home in the 6100 block of Kingsbury.
It is still the family home after 51 years. “Kingsbury Place was a very patriotic neighborhood,” Celestine recalls. “There were stars in the windows marking the homes that gave men and women to the service of their country.” Dorris Celestine Cunningham graduated from high school in 1931.
Her brother and sister were in college, but Celestine wanted to explore her world.
She worked at a dime store for three years, then pursued her formal education at Southeast State Teachers’ College. Later she attended Washington University School of Fine Arts, studying painting under artist Fred Conway.
She has since had her landscape paintings and her extraordinary quilts exhibited here.
After graduation, Celestine went to work as an art teacher at Wellston Junior High School, where most of the students were African American. Celestine proved a great favorite, because of her warmth, kindness and good humor. One of her teaching collegues there recalls the moment when the assassination of President John Kennedy was announced over the school loudspeakers. Many of the students ran in tears to Celestine to be comforted.
Her sister, Virginia, retired from her career with the St. Louis Public Library, is now in a nursing home.
Her brother, Bob, died four years ago, and his daughter lives with Celestine. Ms. Cunningham speaks wistfully of those earlier days when neighbors sat on their porches or strolled down the street. “It was so friendly with conversations always going on. Perhaps it was television and central air conditioning that made people go inside their houses and close the doors,” she muses wistfully. “But things are different again—things have turned around,” she adds. Relying on her neighbors and a visiting caregiver from the Cardinal Ritter Institute, Ms. Cunningham finds that “there are so many wonderful people in the neighborhood.
It gives me a feeling of comfort that they are there if anything goes wrong.” Wilma Cantwell, Ms. Cunningham’s next door neighbor, calls Celestine “a fantastic neighbor.” To illustrate, she recalls the time years ago that Wilma’s son, Tim, fell and injured himself. Since no family car was available, Celestine took him to the emergency room. Wilma has watched out for Celestine, as well. “She has supplied many, many meals to our house,” says Celestine.
While a supportive member of First Presbyterian Church, Ms. Cunningham is an active supporter of St. Roch Church.
A quilt she donated for the St. Roch Bazaar appeared recently in the Times. Celestine enjoys good health, except for her arthritis, and passes the time watching TV and solving Seek and Find puzzles. “And I enjoy the company of my niece, Charlotte, who also lives with me,” adds Celestine.
She also corresponds with a former student at Wellston Junior High, Diane Harper, now a Captain in the Salvation Army. Those who visit and spend time with this lovely lady realize that, in addition to her friends, she also has a million wonderful memories to call upon.
Original photograph caption
Longtime Kingsbury resident, artist and teacher Celestine Cunningham with one of her quilts. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
