Su Casa Tours, is the result of the strong values, love & pride that was shared and expected in the very united Cunningham Cyrus Family.....
"!!! Walk Good !!!" is what our Great Grandpa Charlie used to say to his 13 Cunningham-Cyrus children and some of the Great-Grandchildren who were lucky enough to spend time with him.
"!!! Lord me GOD !!!" is what is remembered most coming out of Great Grandma Florie's mouth. Known as the Parismina, Limon healer and the one who held it down at home while great grandpa would work the cacao (chocolate) and banana farm. United Fruit Company used to buy Grandpas crops and Grandma would sell a portion from home store.
The Cunningham-Cyrus family is truly the result of their life decision to love, support and be dedicated to one another. Today we have over 300 years of family history as well as over 300 cousins descending from the orginal Cyrus family root. A list of last names that seem endless yet the unity of DNA due to family knowledge permits us to hug one another and with pride say ... thats MY COUSIN.
13 Cunningham-Cyrus Children:
CECIL:________________________________________________
The Hunter and the Practical Joker.
The hunter, passed away as a young adult due to an infection caused by a penetrating spear. One of Nena's (Rebecca) and Tia Thelma's favorite story is that after school they would walk home slow behind the older cousins. At times so slow that the other siblings would complain. Cecil told grandpa.. dont worry Dad I will fix'em.
Next day after school, the kids were walking home and they heard a loud Lion Growl!!! All the kids took off running after they saw Nena and Tia Thelma pass them with there legs hitting there backsides with speed to get away from Lion.
Huffing and puffing the kids told grandpa and the elders about the lion. The elders grabbed their guns and went to find the Lion. CECIL WAS THE LION and spent that night sleeping under a tree fearing for his life...Guess his Lion Growl was a bit too convincing.
JOSEPH:______________________________________________
The Business Man and Very Proud to Be Limonense.
Uncle Joe (the brother not the uncle) was no joke. He would get off the train and yell "RUUuuuuuuu" "RUEBENNnnnn" followed by his big laugh! The town knew when Uncle Joe came home with his attention grabing voice and the goodies for the kiddies.
Children: Barbara, Gloria, Erold, Carlos, Fernando and Rigley
LEVI:_________________________________________________
The Explorer.
The traveler that made his way to Africa. became a Merchant Marine after working Panama Canal.
VIOLETA:_____________________________________________
The Glamorous,Elegant and Fashionable One.
Tia Violeta was strict with the kids going to the baptist church on Sunday. There the 4th generation learned to sing both english and spanish hyms. At times all the nieces and nephews would sleep over and somehow she streched the money and ad bread with jelly (in these times that was a big treat) accompanied with tea, coffee and spoiled Maritza had to have her chocolate.
Children:Yvonne, Carlos, Tony, Conchita and Mario
LAUREEN:_____________________________________________
Passed away in childhood
BRANFORD:___________________________________________
Passed away in childhood
RUBEN:_____________________________________________
The Negotiator, Farmer, Photographer and Realtor.
Tio Ruben believed in is nieces and nephews but more importantly trusted them with responsibility. Sometimes it may have been a mistake because at times he would take Cousins Tony and Maritza to the farm in Rio Jimenez. Would send them to go buy meat and food for supper...instead of steak these two showed up with sardines and boiled green bananas for dinner. WHY??? To buy CHOCOLATE of course!
All Tio Ruben would say is "Well done, well done..hmmm good." Elders would tel him how could you give pigne (kids) the money and he would answer because they know what they are doing with it, leave them. They stayed in budget, had fun and we ate...well done.
Children:Ito, Myrna, Pepin and Pepina
BEATRICE:__________________________________________
The Sweetheart and Number One Caribbean Baker.
Tia BB would stay in the kitchen with great grandma cooking and speak to the nieces and nephews in english regardless if you understood or not. Thanks to her many learned to speak english and we became a bilingual family.
If she was around the 4th generation had to have their hair combed and braided. Very important that the Cunningham kids were presentable. Mind you this is back when there was no shampoo, no hair conditioner and these kids had thick spanish black hair... lots and lots of hair!
Children:Francisco (Chico), Ariola, Ermalinda, Helida, Papito, Griffith
JULIETA:____________________________________________
The Tomboy, The Family Historian & The Political Activist:
Marched with Figueres and Calderon Guardia. Defended Woman at a time when domestic violence was an accepted secret. Protector of all children, providing shelter and food to many. Extraordinary chef who prepared meals for Politico Julio Acosta.She was part of the first generation of blacks allowed to work in San Jose, Costa Rica when racisim prevented Balcks from passig Turialba border.
Sonia, Victoria, Carlos
Rebecca:____________________________________________
The Loving One, The USA Ground Breaker Very sweet and calm but if loved ones are physically threaten known for pulling a machete and knowing how to use it. First one to migrate to the United States and in turned opened doors for all Cunninghams to follow by sacrificing her daughter by her side and in turn bringing family members old enouhg to work first.
Children: Maritza
Issac:_______________________________________________
The Father Substitute.
Raising his nieces and nephews in their tender years. Some he raised from Birth and others up to the age of ten. Tio Duel is considered cousin Maritza's father because at the age of twenty-two he raised his niece Maritza from when she was forty days old up to the age of 5 years.
The ideal strong, respectful and protective role model of a man. No one could touch his family much less any of his nieces and nephews. only thing he demands f us is that we walk through this life with dignity and not dirty the Cunningham name.
Children: Pablo, Lupe, Tutu, Pele
Willie:_______________________________________________
The Life of a Party and The Boxer.
Punching his way through racial discrimination. He was a shoe maker, bread maker and found his calling as a furniture manufacturer. Had a prosperous business with business partner and life long friends: Quijano and Miguel.
He was always overseeing that his sisters, nephews and nieces always had enough food and clothes.
As children his nieces and nephews knew to pass by his furniture shop for whatever they needed be it for candy or school supplies. Always so gentle but when neccesary comanded respect with is fist against racial incedents and not allowing his sisters to become domestic abuse statistics.
Children: Mario, Francisco, Alvaro, Maribel
Florisa:______________________________________________
The Baby, The Rule Breaker and Chef
She would sneak nieces out of the house windows so that they could go dance at the country fair to dance with the boys...the only catch was..the boys would have to pay ten cents to be able to dance with one of the pretty 4th generation Cunningham nieces. She would catch hell from grandpa but as we say she was the rule breaker.
Tia Florisa's cooking has won all kinds of rewards and she is quick to show her kitchen skills to anyone who visits.
Children: Elena, Pavon, Gerardo, Sandra, Kattia, Mallela, Olga
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Our Story
Great Grandpa Charlie came to Costa Rica in the 1900's from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica after the country was released from British rule. Once in Costa Rica he started working his land and sent for the help of his sister Mary Cunningham Livingston and brother Joseph Cunningham Livingston.
His brother Joseph helped in Parismina, Limon and then worked his way down to Cahuita, Limon. Here he formed a life with Pearl Dixon and raised our Cahuita cousins. The biggest gift Uncle Joe gave us was a written insert about our family history and their journey to Costa Rica.
One part of our history is documented within the pages of the book
"What Happen" - A Folk-History of Costa Rica's Talamanca Coast. by Paula Palmer.
Sample insert from "What Happen" by Paula Palmer:
"I was born in 1893, the 26 of September, in Jamaica, the Parish of St. Elizabeth. I worked in the fields, cause the parents was very poor. I had but litle education. I had to go out in the field and work since the age of twelve years old just to support the balance of the childen in the home. I do all kind of work outside just merely to get a day's pay, you see. There was so many of us, It was fifteen of us in the home...."
Mr. Joseph Cunningham Livingston
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Cunningham-Cyrus Family member...Know one thing for sure:
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Our DNA is from God Driven Faithful prior generations . We are Explorers, Buisness Minded, Resourceful, Hard-Working, Ground-Breaking, Humble and Giving individuals.
Dont FORGET... EVER ...WHERE You COME FROM and make sure you teach your children so that our ancestors continue in life with us forever...
Like Grandpa says: WALK GOOD!
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