Jesse Carl Cummings, Sr.

Jesse Carl Cummings Sr. was born on August 15th 1943, to Johnson Cummings and Carrie E. Daniels-Cummings in Big Rock, Texas. His family moved to Athens, Texas in 1948. Jesse planted his family’s yearly crops of food and raised hogs for his family’s monthly expenses. He planted pine trees to stabilize the ground and used a mule and plow to cultivate the soil for planting. He did all of this while he attended Fisher High School where he graduated in 1961. His first car was a 1957 blue Ford.While attending high school, one of Jesse’s teachers convinced him to attend Prairie View A&M University because he had shown an interest in agriculture. Not only did Jesse enjoy the agricultural aspect of the university, but he was impressed how students interacted with the faculty and staff. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree from Prairie View A&M University, he joined the U.S. Air Force. There he served his country for 4 years, spending most of his tenure in Japan. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Jesse became an Industrial Arts teacher for the Fort Worth School District. While teaching, he discovered many children had complex personal problems which in many cases hindered their ability to learn. He decided to do further study at Prairie View A&M University to become a counselor in order to help these children. He later pursued a Master’s Degree in Education from Prairie View A&M University. Shortly after he received his Master’s Degree, he was promoted to Program Director of the Basic Adult Education Program in Fort Worth Texas. Also during this time, he met Maxine Miller, whom he later married. To this union, a baby girl was born. Jesse decided to take classes to pursue a Doctorate of Education. During this time he and his wife decided to have another baby which was a boy.Later years, Jesse and family moved to Duncanville where the Holy Spirit urged he and his family along with nine other families to establish a church due to lack of black churches in Duncanville. The Holy Spirit again urged him to study God’s word and become an active, devoted and faithful member of Loving Fellowship Christian Church. He served in many capacities including Chairman of the Deacon Board, Member of the Finance Committee, Member of the Male Chorus Choir and other teaching responsibilities. Jesse was a faithful member until his health failed him. God called him home on Monday, Nov. 6th at 8:55am. Jesse is survived by his loving wife Maxine, son Anthony (wife Paula), grandson James, grandson Delroy, daughter Valerie (husband Ron), granddaughter Xiana, son Carl (wife Claudia) granddaughter Gina, granddaughter Celeste’ (mate Walter), great grandson Alex, Brother-in-law Charles, niece Sonia, sister Ollie Lavern, sister Glenda (husband Larry) nephew Lannis, nephew Oliver, niece Cicely, brother Jerry, niece Carrie, niece Tiffany and other family and loved ones.