Lillian was born and raised in Rockland, the only child of Blanche (Wheeler) and Harold Cunningham. She showed an aptitude for music at an early age, dabbling in trombone and violin before setting her sights on mastering the piano and organ. While studying organ with Mildred Studley at the Rockland Congregational Church, she was tapped to fill in during her teacher's illness and served there for over a year. After graduating from Rockland High School in 1945 she went on to earn a degree in music at Lycoming College in Williamsport PA, returning to Rockland to share her knowledge as a highly regarded teacher of piano, organ and voice to hundreds of students of all ages and abilities at her Belmont Street home, at the former South Shore Keyboards in Hanover and Pembroke, and later at Channing Church operating as "Cunningham's Keyboard".

She also served as Music Director in various churches including Wesley Methodist in Dorchester, Assinippi Universalist Church in Norwell, and most recently at Channing Church in Rockland where she served for 30 years. While at Channing Lillian formed a Handbell Ringing Group that performed at the 1985 Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Statehouse. In August of 1976 Lillian married the talented keyboard artist (Jon) Robert Hall from Youngstown, Ohio, and was devoted to his care for over a decade after he suffered a stroke, until his passing in 2011.

A Memorial Service will be held in her honor at Channing Church, 45 Webster Street, Rockland, at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 20th. All are invited to attend and share their memories of "Miss Cunningham".