Mrs. Tunisia M. Cunningham's Obituary
The funeral program can be viewed and downloaded: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/914304496/
Tunisia Morean Jordan was born to her parents Eddie and Casandra Jordan on June 8, 1976.
Born in Indianola, MS - the first of two children - Tunisia came into this world wide-eyed and observant
of everything around her. Three years later, Tunisia became a big sister to her brother Eddie. As a small
child, she was like a second mother, instructing and protecting him throughout their childhood, even
after he was no longer the “little brother” in size and stature.
Tunisia’s father was in the United States Air Force and as a military “brat”, she had the opportunity to
travel abroad. She began her education in Madrid, Spain for pre-K through 2nd grade at Royal Oaks
Elementary School. At the age of 8, she was baptized by her father, Revered Eddie Jordan in the Royal
Oaks Community Swimming Pool. When the family returned stateside, she attended Dyess Elementary
in Abilene, TX where she met her BFF, Cheryl Andrews. On a 2nd overseas tour, Tunisia attended
intermediate school in Misawa, Japan. Returning to Abilene, TX, Tunisia went to Wylie Middle School
then Wylie High School, where she was an outstanding student and athlete. She was a member of the
National Honor Society and lettered in basketball and track & field. She even got the opportunity to train
with Olympian Carl Lewis in track. Tunisia was an active member of, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Hamlin,
TX and later New Light Baptist Church, Abilene, TX where her father Eddie Jordan Sr. was the Pastor. She
followed in her mother’s footsteps and developed a love for singing in the church choir.
During her final year of high school in 1993, Tunisia became very ill and had to be homeschooled for the
2nd half of her senior year. Despite this, Tunisia was able to graduate and go off to college as she
planned. Tunisia attended the University of Texas at Arlington where she majored in Speech
Communications and English. She was also accepted to Spelman University in Atlanta, however due to
her health condition, her mother did not want her to go that far away from home.
During her freshman year at UT Arlington, she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease: Lupus
Nephritis. While enduring bouts of sickness, she balanced a full courseload, maintained a high GPA and
pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - and she never once complained or thought of giving up.
While at UTA, she made life-long friends with a tight-knit group and together, they called themselves the
Glamour Girls (the GGs). After her university years, she went on to teach at Garland High School, where
she met the love of her life, Billy Joe Cunningham II. They dated for 2 years and were united in holy
matrimony on July 17, 2007 (with her dad officiating because he would have it no other way). After their
wedding, they united in fellowship at Concord Church, where her husband, Billy announced his calling to
preach the gospel. In 2008, a year after their marriage, Tunisia’s kidneys failed, and she had to go onto
dialysis. During this time, Tunisia and her husband bought their first home in Fort Worth, TX where they
moved their membership to Rising Star Baptist Church. In 2011, Tunisia had a kidney transplant at Baylor
Fort Worth. She enjoyed 5 years of dialysis-free life. In that time, she became an adjunct ESL instructor
at Tarrant County Community College (TCC).
In 2014, Tunisia moved back to Abilene, TX with her husband who had accepted a head basketball
coaching position. She taught speech and English at Mann Middle School. In 2016, Tunisia was
hospitalized for 3 months resulting in the loss of her transplanted kidney. They moved back to their
home in Fort Worth for Tunisia’s medical care and she started her 2nd stint on dialysis that year.
After moving back from Abilene, they joined Koinonia Christina Church where she met a host of new
sisters while participating in classes such as Christian Wives and being discipled in WDC’s Class of 2019.
In August 2019, Tunisia suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. After months of rehabilitation, she was left with
no physical signs of the stroke other than aphasia. Shortly after recovering from the stroke, COVID-19
was announced as a global pandemic in early 2020. COVID-19 sent everyone into quarantine and out of
an abundance of caution, Tunisia and her husband decided to worship virtually with Koinonia.
On February 2, 2021, Tunisia unexpectedly lost her father to complications after his kidney transplant
surgery. In January 2022, Tunisia began to notice a change in her vision. By late February, the change
was progressing more quickly and after several appointments with eye doctors, no definitive diagnosis
was provided. Tunisia noticed that her body was getting weaker with each passing week. Attributing her
weakness to possible complications from dialysis, she sought help at the local hospital, but to no avail.
After a night of severe muscle spasms, she was taken to UT Southwestern Medical Center where she
was admitted on May 10, 2022. It was at UT Southwestern that her condition deteriorated to a point
where she lost all of her vision and mobility. After many weeks of testing, she was finally diagnosed with
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder or Devic’s disease, a rare autoimmune condition that attacked
her nervous system. Though she put up a valiant fight, the disease slowly took her ability to speak.
Tunisia was discharged from UT Southwestern and admitted to Kindred Hospital in Arlington for long-
term acute care. She contracted aspiration pneumonia and was taken to the ICU at Arlington Memorial
Hospital. It was there Tunisia was given her wings and took flight home to her Heavenly Father on
August 12, 2022.
In Tunisia’s lifetime, she endured many setbacks but also overcame each challenge she faced with her
unwavering faith in God and an inner strength that inspired those who knew of her struggles.
Tunisia continued to be an active church member wherever she was planted. She sang in the choirs, led
worship and Bible study and was involved in community service.
Tunisia was creative and loved fashion, design, and decorating. She loved to coordinate outfits with her
husband. She fine-tuned the art of home décor, learned from her mother. She even became a Certified
Wedding Planner and planned her own beautiful and unforgettable wedding.
Tunisia was a fabulous cook and business owner of Peachy Tee’s. She would take orders for her famous
peach cobblers and bring smiles to the recipients of her sweet treats.
Tunisia was a gifted writer, and started her Facebook blog, “Up at Dark 30 with the Chickens and God,”
where she chronicled her dialysis journey and offered words of inspiration and encouragement. She had
aspirations to author a book based on her faith in God and her testimony of how He brought her
through.
Tunisia was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, aunt and Godmother to her immediate family. She was a
Soror, a BFF, a confidante, a muse and inspiration to others. Tunisia was young, gifted and
unapologetically Black. She was Dignified in life - and now... beyond.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future... Her husband
praises her: There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them
all!”
~ Proverbs 31:25
Tunisia was preceded in death by her grandparents, her father, Eddie Jordan, father-in-law, Raymond
Clayborn and her beloved fur-baby, Ivy. She leaves in God’s loving care her devoted husband of 15 years,
Billy Joe Cunningham II; her mother, Casandra Wilson Jordan; mother-in-law, Leola Clayborn; brother,
Eddie Jordan II (Janelle); brother-in-law, Reginald Cunningham (Stacye); sister-in-law LaMonica Newman
(Aaron); 6 nieces and 4 nephews; fur baby, Creed; and a host of extended family and friends.
What’s your fondest memory of Tunisia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Tunisia?
Share a story where Tunisia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Tunisia you’ll never forget.
How did Tunisia make you smile?
