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April 2, 2008

God, music helped singer through jail

By Courtney Anderson

SHARON — Emma Cunningham has been through a lot in the five or so decades she’s been on Earth.

She’s lost loved ones, suffered diseases like lupus and arthritis and spent more than 11 years in prison for a murder she didn’t commit.

But it doesn’t bring Ms. Cunningham down. In fact, she uses her experiences and music to help lift up other people.

On Saturday, she’ll share her testimony and song at the Concert in Celebration of the Patches of Godlight.

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Penn State Shenango, 147 Shenango Ave., Sharon.

It is free and open to the public; a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the programs of Sankofa House for Women, Inc., Sharon.

Ms. Cunningham’s status as a “previously incarcerated lady” made her a natural choice to help highlight the work of the Sankofa House, said project consultant Timothy Wagner.

During its three years in Sharon, Sankofa House has helped 15 women move from jail to living productive lives in the community, founder and director Lynda Moss-McDougall said.

Wagner and Mrs. Moss-McDougall were blown away by Ms. Cunningham’s voice when they heard her sing at a conference in Baltimore last fall, he said.

“You know that it’s from her soul,” Mrs. Moss-McDougall said.

Ms. Cunningham was in prison in Georgia from 1979 to 1990 and was freed after being proven innocent. She spent 3è years on death row and noted that her execution date had been set.

She said she understands what the women of Sankofa House are going through.

“I’ve sat in those very seats …” Ms. Cunningham said recently during a stay in Sharon. “They feel there’s no hope. That’s a lie. God can change anything, but you’ve got to be willing to make that change.”

To get through, Ms. Cunningham turned to God and singing praise music.

“No matter what my darkest day was, something good came out of the situation,” Ms. Cunningham said. “Through my singing, somebody heard me.”

She has performed for groups as large as 40,000 and travels all over the country performing mostly gospel music. Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls produced her first album, “He Did it All.” It includes the songs “Jordan River,” “I Am Redeemed” and “Soon Ah Will Be Done.”

Ms. Cunningham’s life and music is inspiring, Mrs. Moss-McDougall said.

“I tell people to listen to the words …” Ms. Cunningham said.

The concert will also feature Notre Dame Folk Group of Hermitage, Grace Chapel Praise Band of Sharon and New and Living Way Church Gospel Ensemble of Farrell. Local television personality Madonna Chism Pinkard will be mistress of ceremony.

Ms. Cunningham will also perform at the Patches of Godlight award dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at the Corinthian in downtown Sharon. This year’s honoree is Martha Richards, founder of Southwest Gardens in Farrell. The dinner is $25 per person and reservations can be made by calling Sankofa House at 724-981-5701 or at sankofa665@verizon.net.



For more information about Ms. Cunningham or to order her CD, write to Emma Cunningham, 6725 Brownsmill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 or send an e-mail to southernbird23@Comcast.net.

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