Catherine Margaret Cummings

Catherine Cummings a devoted member of the Church of Christ since February 14, 1954, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. Her faith drew her into the field of education, her passion for children was an inspiration for teaching. She started her professional career as a substitute teacher at Golfview Elementary School, then in the fall of 1966 an office clerk at Kennedy Junior High in Brevard County. Various promotional moves for the family took Catherine to Arkansas where she was awarded her first full-time job as a teacher. After their youngest child graduated from Community College, Catherine and Jim moved back to Florida, where she continued her work until her retirement from Hernando Public School System in 1997.

Catherine graduated from Brevard Junior College in 1966 with an Associates of Arts Degree at the age of 31. She was 39, when she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from State College of Arkansas, and 49 when she received her Master of Education from University of South Florida. She always laughed "it took me eight schools, and twelve years to finish", but she persevered; demonstrating through example; you can accomplish anything, you put your mind to.

Catherine's commitment was faith, family, friends and community. Her community involvement started when she volunteered in 1963 as Girl Scout Leader for Troop 51 in Brooksville, where she was acknowledged as a newly elected member of the Junior Service league. In 1966 Catherine's community spirit continued in Brevard County as a dedicated member of the Brevard Junior College Faculty Women's Club. In 1967, she was honored with the Mother of the Year Award, acknowledgement written in the Brevard's Today's Newspaper. In 1975, she was an active member in the Phi Delta Kappa Sorority in which she participated in both Arkansas, and Florida. In 1989, the Florida Republican Women's League took her to the National Republican Convention in Colorado.

After her retirement, Catherine and her husband, James Gardner Cummings, took to the road, traveling extensively through the United States. Her independent travels took to the 1989 Rose Parade, Hawaii, Ireland, and Scotland. Through the years she has enjoyed was germinating and rooting flowers, that she gave to family and friends; She is survived by her husband James Gardner Cummings, her children Deborah (Rodney Shivers, Jr.), Cheryl (Daniel Hull), and grandchildren Dawn Engelbrecht (Thomas), Jerrad Shivers (Brianne), Blaine Shivers (Heather). And great-grandchildren Addison, Lacey, Brooklyn, Samantha Engelbrecht; Mikaela, Evelyn, Jaxson Shivers, and Zoey Shivers, respectively.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held Tuesday, January 15 at 1:00 pm at Baldwin Fairchild West Altamonte Chapel, 90 Weathersfield Ave, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Minister Adam Willingham will be officiating. Condolences to the Cummings family may be made online by visiting:

www.baldwinfairchildwestaltamonte.com. In memory of Catherine, the family requests donations be made to Mount Dora Children's Home, 301 W. 13th Avenue, Mount Dora, Florida 32757. Please make checks payable to the Mount Dora Children's Home and write "In Memory of Catherine J. Cummings" on the memo line. To make a gift online, www.mdchome.org/give-now-recurringgifts/give-now-one-time-donations. Select "Home Fund" in the Designation drop down menu and write "In Memory of Catherine J. Cummings" in the comment section.