Larry Cunningham is originally from Quitman, Georgia. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska. He lives with his wife and their children in Quitman and attends Quitman First Baptist Church.

Larry currently serves as the president for the Brooks County Board of Education, representing District 2. He was first elected in 1993 and is serving his ninth term.

Larry currently works as the owner and president of R.L. Cunningham & Sons, a peanut shelling and buying operation in Quitman. He manages the family business, which was founded by his father and has grown to include custom cleaning, storage, and state-of-the-art drying technology. He previously worked in various capacities within the agricultural industry, focusing on peanut seed quality and production.