Mary CUMMING

HAMPTON - Mary Estes Cumming, Music Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist, went to live with her Lord Sept. 26, 2010, at the age of 84.
She taught piano lessons in her home since 1960 and taught music in Robert Sugden's Private School, and in the Hampton, Newport News and York County School Systems. She played the organ and directed choirs in Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Christian Science Churches. Her longest tenure was at the Parkview Methodist Church in Newport News and at Hope Lutheran Church in Hampton.
Born in Newport News on May 6, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Fluwellyn Estes and Ruth Crockett Estes. She graduated from Hampton High School in the class of 1943 and started a reunion at 35 years, the largest Hampton High School Reunion still functioning twice a year. She received an Associate's Degree in Business and Music from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton in 1945, and later attended University of Virginia Night School Extension Classes in Newport News.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, James Wilkins Cumming; her daughter, Camellia Ann Cumming; her sister, Ruth Estes Lawson; and her grandson, Jacob Ethan Tyler DuBose.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James McPherson Cumming II and Beth Cumming; her daughters, Joan Miller Call and Ruth Olivia Hathaway; her eight grandchildren, Shelly Cumming McGraw, Justin Patrick Miller, Jeffrey Pope Cumming, Holly Miller Lincoln, Sarah Anne DuBose, Jeremiah Thomas DuBose, James McPherson Cumming III, and Jesse Call; and her three great-grandchildren, Summer Tala McGraw, Rachael Mahala McGraw, and Jack Elwood Miller.
She was a great lover of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, in the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home chapel. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hope Lutheran Church, 112 Todd's Lane, Hampton, VA 23666, and St. John's Episcopal Church, 100 Queen's Way, Hampton, VA 23669. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.