By 
February 28, 2025
Today they walk out of City Hall for the last time, two long-time and beloved employees who have, together, given a lifetime of service to the people of Huntsville.
That’s no exaggeration. Randy and Cheri Cunningham, husband and wife for 50 years, have together worked 77 years for the City. The life expectancy in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is 77.5 years.
So, yes, Randy and Cheri have given a lifetime of service to the people of Huntsville.
Seems like a great time to give them a standing ovation.
“It’s been a good run,” said Randy, who retires as the City’s longtime Director of Inspections.
“It’s been a great place to work,” said Cheri, who retires as the City’s Property Compliance Supervisor in Community Development.
“Not many married couples give seven decades of their careers to public service,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Their devotion and dedication to the people of Huntsville is an outstanding example of what makes our city such a special place. We hate to see them go but this is a reward they have certainly earned.”
As you might expect, this was never the plan. The Cunninghams are Illinois natives who moved to Huntsville in the 1960s when Randy accepted a job with a building company. He began working for the City on Feb. 18, 1985, and Cheri followed four years later.
Seemingly a blink of an eye later, today is their final day. That’s 40 years for Randy, 37 for Cheri.
“It goes by fast,” Randy said. “I would say time flies when you’re having fun.”
They both hired into the department from which they are retiring. Randy has worked under four mayors, Cheri under three. A little perspective on how long they have worked for the City: “I can remember when there was no I-565,” Randy said.
Their retirement plans are deliberately vague. They both want to travel around the United States but have no particular desire to vacation abroad. There are always things to do around the house, too.
“I may wake up a month from now thinking, ‘Why did I retire?’” Randy said with a chuckle.
There is also the matter of Randy and Cheri getting accustomed to being around each other every day. Though their jobs often brought them together, their work schedules were not the same and they almost never traveled to or from work together.
With her own sense of humor, Cheri alluded to their 50 years of marriage and said with a laugh, “I guess we’re going to put that to the true test.”
Neither of them is looking forward to today. Not the final day at work. Not saying goodbye to dear friends and coworkers.
“Not looking forward to it at all,” Randy said.
“It will be emotional,” Cheri said.
“These people are like my second family,” Randy said. “I will miss them.”
“We’ve made a lot of friends along the way,” Cheri said.
Cheri’s supervisor, Community Development Manager Scott Erwin, is not looking forward to today, either.
“Cheri’s knowledge of the department, we’re going to miss that,” he said. “She’s helped me tremendously.”
So thank you, Randy and Cheri, for 77 years. A lifetime of service. And, again, let’s all stand and applaud.
“We wish everybody in the City the best,” Cheri said.
