ABERDEEN - Mary Cunningham, who recently celebrated her 80th birthday, has been teaching music to students in Monroe County since 1961.

In addition to private lessons, she has taught music at Hamilton and Wren schools. She currently teaches piano at an Aberdeen school.

"I started taking music when I was in the sixth grade," Cunningham said. "My dad heard me play and said I needed to take lessons. I got married my freshman year in college and after four kids I decided to go back to night school. My junior year I couldn't live on campus because of my family. I have just perfected my methods over the years."

She started playing the piano at church when she was 14. At 16, she played for her first wedding - a small family affair.

"I don't even remember how many weddings I have played," she said.

She currently plays the piano at Tranquil United Methodist Church for the early service and then at the 11 a.m. service at her church, Wren Presbyterian. She also plays when there is a fifth Sunday night service.

"There are hardly any young people to play piano in church anymore," Cunningham said. "Kids don't practice now like I had to practice."

Cunningham said she has no idea how many kids she has taught over the years. She teaches students in third grade through their senior year.

"I am now teaching the second generation of some families," she said.

She married Ferrell Cunningham in 1973. They have one son together and she has four children from a previous marriage. She also has 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

At home, she still uses a Clark Apollo Player piano that she had reworked. The piano, sent by a friend of her grandparents, was shipped on a train from Chicago. Her grandparents moved to the area in 1914.

In addition to her piano students, Cunningham keeps busy helping with yard sales for the Aberdeen Animal Shelter, working with Coontail RCDC, serving at moderator for the Wren Presbyterian Church and writing Coontail/Wren News for the Monroe Journal.