Mel was born to H. Leslie Cunningham and Gertrude McKenzie Cunningham in Plumweseep on June 21, 1939. He was a heavy equipment operator for many years retiring in 2004; however, he continued to run machinery in the summer months. Mel was a lifelong resident of Sussex. He will be remembered for his open and warm welcome to anyone he met or who showed up at his door, he was a man willing to go out of his way to help people when he could and always ready for a conversation on "what's happening in Kings County".