Elizabeth Newman

Elizabeth Cunningham Newman

November 10, 1934

Gulfport, MS

 Elizabeth Cunningham Newman, age 90, went home to her Lord and Savior on January 27, 2025.

Elizabeth was born in Jackson, Mississippi to Blanche Didlake and Oliver E. Cunningham on November 10, 1934. She grew up in Jackson and graduated from Central High School in 1952. Elizabeth attended Millsaps College in Jackson, MS and graduated from University of Southern Mississippi, receiving a degree in Business Education. 

After graduating from University of Southern Mississippi, Elizabeth moved to Biloxi, MS where she taught typing and shorthand at Biloxi High School for 2 years. After teaching, she worked at Tech Taf Airforce Headquarters (TTAF). 

Elizabeth and her husband Roy met on the MS Gulf Coast; they married in May of 1957, and were married for 55 years. Elizabeth & Roy enjoyed traveling internationally, taking quick weekend domestic trips, and going to USM football games. In the later years of her marriage Elizabeth enjoyed preparing lunch for Roy during work week. However, if she had lunch plans with the girls, she would always make sure Roy had a ripe tomato in the window for him to make a tomato sandwich. 

Elizabeth, also known as Eunabeth or EB, was always involved in her kids’ activities, from Cub Scout leader, football booster clubs to Gayfer Girls. Elizabeth was very involved in her kids’ schools. From the Halloween Carnivals, to serving on committees, to having air conditioning installed in the public schools, to providing sidewalks for kids to walk to school, she was there.

She enjoyed cooking and taking care of others. She always cooked for activities at Trinity Methodist Church for family night suppers or for youth dinners. Elizabeth’s house was always the house for painting football signs for football games. She was willing and able to have kids over to work on projects or, at the end of the school year, host a year-end pool party. Elizabeth had the door open for holidays too. Everyone knew she had an extra seat at the table for anyone that needed a place to eat during the holidays.

Once EB received grandmother status, she was still willing & able to bake cookies for the GHS band members, the GHS tennis team and for Ole Miss Tailgating. No matter what the occasion, she was always willing to whip up something delicious to eat, and kids especially loved EB’s cookies!

Elizabeth was an active and involved member of Trinity for over 60 years. She and Roy were one of the first members of the church. She was involved in Ladies Circle, she taught Sunday School, she served on many committees, and she sang in the choir. The Christmas Cantata was her favorite. She was a member of numerous Bible Studies too. 

Playing the piano, sewing, cooking & entertaining were her hobbies. Her favorite pastime was working in her yard. 

 Green Thumb Garden Club and Birthday Club were a few of her favorite clubs she enjoyed attending. She also enjoyed her fitness classes too.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband of over 55 years, Roy Newman; her parents, Blanche and Oliver Cunningham; and her sister and her husband, Magdalene and Cecil Hudson.

She is survived by her four children, Rodney (Norma) Newman of Ocean Springs, MS, Cindy Newman of Gulfport, MS, Doug (LeeAnn) Newman of Pass Christian, MS and Roianne (Brent) Gutierrez of Gulfport, MS; her ten grandchildren, Lorenzo Newman and Anna Holt, Alex, Peyton and Abigail Bergin, Nancy Mason , Camille and Katharine Newman, and Grant and Chad Gutierrez; plus, three great-grandchildren, many nieces, and nephews. 

Special thanks to the staff at The Clairborne and her caretakers at Vital Care. 

 In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Roy Newman Family Pediatric Fund c/o Memorial Hospital Gulfport Foundation, P.O. Box 940; Gulfport, MS 39502.

Visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Trinity Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, with funeral service beginning at 11:00 AM, interment will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Please visit www.riemannfamily.com where memories and photos may be shared.