James “Jake” Alexander Cunningham died peacefully at home on September 2, 2026. He was born on June 18, 1993, to Sarah Elizabeth Tinsley and Robert Mangrem Cunningham.

James grew up on St. Simons Island, graduated from Glynn Academy, and earned his degree in mechanical engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic Institute at Kennesaw State University. James loved machines and learning how things worked.

He played trumpet in the Glynn Academy Marching Band. At the former Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica his good friend Lester Forbes taught him to operate a sound board. When not in the sound booth, James sang in the choir and played the big bells in the Hand Bell Choir. He taught himself to play bass guitar and often joined the band in the Contemporary Service.

James spent many nights in a sleeping bag at Boy Scouts’ Camp Tolochee and worked summers as a counselor. He was an avid Lego builder, his biggest being The Titanic, a 3-month project.

James had many days with his paternal grandfather on the Henry County farm of Larry Montgomery. A love of tractors and equipment was also nurtured by the numerous summers his family vacationed at Rockhouse Mountain Farm in New Hampshire. He would have been happy to be a farmer.

James volunteered at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth where he met and became a devoted member of the North Georgia Live Steamers, a group of train enthusiasts building and operating 1/8 scale engines and cars on club tracks in Conyers. On Ride Days, sitting astride one of the steam locomotives pulling cars of children of all ages was one of his greatest joys.

For many years James volunteered at pop culture conventions in Atlanta, including Dragon Con, MomoCon, and Southern-Fried Gaming Expo where he ran sound boards and did a lot of heavy lifting. He cherished the friends he made on those long weekends. He also enjoyed myriad friendships made through online gaming and playing Dungeons and Dragons. Plans are being made in Atlanta for a memorial game the players call, Last Order at the Yawning Portal, in early November. Proceeds will go to a charity James selected.

He was an animal lover, mostly preferring cats to dogs yet genuinely fond of any good pet. James had a keen sense of humor, appreciated a good pun, was always learning, and willing to share. He reveled in mountain bike riding, spending many weekends careening down trails with co-workers and other friends.

James was predeceased by his grandparents, Robert P. and Verdery Cunningham and Walter and Gladys Tinsley. He is survived by his parents, sister Emily McLaughlin (Conor), and half-brother Charles (Jenny).

Words cannot adequately express the family’s gratitude for the compassionate and experienced care provided to James by Hospice of the Golden Isles and, especially, nurse Jaime Gurnsey. Brunswick Memorial Park assisted with arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to North Georgia Live Steamers, Inc., 1632 Centennial Olympic Pkwy NE, Conyers, GA 30013 or Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, 4627 Hwy. 17 North, Brunswick, GA 31525. (both 501(c)(3) corps.)