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Biographies
Phillip Vernon Cunningham

Source: The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol.III pg.17 1923
Author: The History of Florida: Past & Present

CUNNINGHAM, PHILLIP VERNON is a banker by profession and training, and for a number of years has been associated with the financial affairs of St. Petersburg, where he is cashier of the Ninth Street Bank and Trust Company.He was born twelve miles south of Asheville, North Carolina, at the community known as Fletchers, named in honor of a member of the Fletcher family, closely allied with the Cunninghams. He was born there, July 20, 1885, son of WILLIAM E. and ALRIE (sic) (GUICE) CUNNINGHAM, also natives of  the same state. The mother is still living, a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida. Their family consists of six sons and two daughters. When PHILLIP V. CUNNINGHAM was a boy the family moved to Jefferson City, Tennessee, and in 1912 they came to St. Petersburg. He was educated in the public schools of Fletcher, North Carolina spent three years in Carson and Newman College, a prominent educational institution of Jefferson City, Tennessee, graduating in the business department in 1905. He had grown up as a boy in his father’s store and learned the practical side of business in that way. In 1908 Mr. CUNNINGHAM organized a bank in South Carolina known as the Bank of Landrum, and served it as cashier for four years. Selling his interest there in 1912 he moved to St. Petersburg, and was assistant cashier of the First National Bank until 1921. Then upon the organization of the Ninth Street Bank and Trust Company he took his present post as cashier. This institution has a capital stock of $50,000, and does a general banking business.

In 1911 Mr. CUNNINGHAM married NETTIE L. FRAZIER, daughter of WILLIAM E. and MATTIE (HALL) FRAZIER of Jefferson City, Tennessee. Mrs. CUNNUNGHAM is a native of Tennessee and was also educated in Carson and Newman College. They have one daughter, DOROTHY ELIZABETH. Mr. CUNNINGHAM is a democratic voter, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and is prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, serving as a steward, trustee and for several years as church treasurer.