Joseph Cunningham Obituary

Joseph John Cunningham Charleston - Joseph John "Joe" Cunningham, 49, of Charleston, husband to Stephanie Cunningham (Crones) of 27 years, entered into eternal rest on April 15, 2021. Born on March 19, 1972, in Newport, RI, Joe was a son of Joe "Skip" Cunningham and Marie (Falzone) Cunningham. Joe graduated from Irmo High School, in 1991, immediately entering the restaurant industry as a dishwasher working his way up to ownership. He continued his restaurant and hospitality career with various restaurants for 32 years. Most notably with Jim and Nick's Bar-B-Q starting in 2005 in Charleston. In 2018, he partnered with longtime friend Nick Pihakis to open Big Bad Breakfast Charleston. He was loved, respected and will be missed by many in the restaurant community. There are too many to name, but he loved and respected all his restaurant friends along the way who became family to him and him to you. Joe enjoyed his trucks and his Harley motorcycle named "Eleanor." Most importantly he enjoyed spending time with his family making sure everyone was together. He was very proud of his three sons and their accomplishments: Mac Cunningham as a SC State Trooper, Dylan Cunningham as a Deputy Sheriff at Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in Canton, GA, and Corbin Cunningham sixth grade at Camp Road Middle School. His dad always used Joe as the BEST example of a true entrepreneurial spirit, a risk-taker, and someone with the best work ethic anyone would ever see. His example will live on as an inspiration to others. Besides his wife and parents, Joe is survived by his three sons, Mac Cunningham of Charleston, Dylan Cunningham of Kennesaw, GA, and Corbin Cunningham of Charleston; two sisters, Melissa Arnold (Mark) of Columbia, SC, Julia Cunningham of Rockhill, SC; in-laws George Crones of Chestnut Hill, MA , Jocelyn Crones of Albrightsville, PA; brother-in-law, Matt Crones (Nancy) of Woburn, MA, and their children Mia and Matthew; along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins and his beloved dog, "Tank." The Celebration of Life Service will be held at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home - James Island, 347 Folly Road, James Island, SC 29412, on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joseph's memory may be sent to either Happy's Porch, PO BOX 505, Folly Beach, SC 29439, www.happysporch.com, 843-730-4454 or Lowcountry Community Chaplaincy, PO BOX 20743, Charleston, SC 29413, (843) 720-9600. Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL & CREMATION, James Island, 347 Folly Rd., Charleston, SC 29412, (843) 614-8494. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston