55 O DEATH,
WHERE IS THY STING.7
O GRAVE, WHERE IS
THY VICTORY.7
56 The sting of death
is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to
God, which giveth
us the victory
through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
In Loving
Memory
f
Metarsfia
Cummings
I Corinthians
15:54-57
54 So when this
corruptible shall have
put on incorruption, and
this mortal shall have put
on immortality, then
shall be brought to
pass the saying
that is written,
Death is swallowed
up in victory.
# The Participants for the Celebration #
The (Bearers of the Casket
Mr. Johnny W. Davis, Jr. Mr. Darian Davis
Mr. Byron Davis Mr. Roy Hughes, III
Mr. Oz Nesbitt Mr. Benjamin Powell
Mr. Pheolian Arthur Evans, III Mr. Sterling Key
<fhe Active (Bearers of the T(orals
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
the Ehonorary (Bearers of the Thorahs
The 1988 Graduating Class of A.R. Johnson Health,
Science and Engineering High School
The Poetic Tribute
Pm Free
Please, family and friends, dont grieve for me, for now, I am free! Im following the
path GOD laid for me. I took HIS hand when 1 heard Him call, I turned my back
and left it all. You see, I could not bear to stay another day~ To laugh, to love, to
work or to play, Tasks left undone must now stay that way. I found PEACE at the
end of the day. If, perchance, my parting has left a void for you, then I want each of
you to fill it with remembered joys. Go on with your lives~ A friendship shared, a
laugh, a kiss, Oh, yes, these things, 1 too, shall miss. Be not burdened with too many
moments of sorrow; I wish for all of you the beautiful sunshine of many tomorrows.
My life has been full and each of you can recall that 1 savored so very much~ Good
friends, good times, a loved ones touch. Perhaps, to you, my time on earth seemed
all too brief; dont lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heads and lift up
your hearts; share this awsome PEACE with ME. GOD wanted me NOW; HE has
set ME FREE!!!!
^ A Mote Tb (Express Our (gratitude
Perhaps you came to visit, called to express your concern, brought delicious
food, offered to carry us to places we needed to go, sent a floral bouquet or sent
a mail-gram, helped to coordinate the celebration; prayed a fervent prayer, or
sent a green flower, it so, we saw it there. Whatever part you may have played
to ensure our strength during what has been a rather difficult time in our lives,
we, the Family members of the late Ms. Netarsha D. Cummings, extend a very
sincere and warm bouquet of THANKS to our many friends, co-workers,
church congregations, neighbors and the hundreds of friends from across the
CSRA and the nation for all acts and deeds of kindness. Your LOVE and
SUPPORT have helped us to make the INEVITABLE more ACCEPTABLE!
~ The Cummings Family (At-Large)
W.H. Mays Mortuary
Professional Service A Family Tradition Since 1922
1221 James Brown Boulevard ~ Augusta, Georgia
706.722.6401
Ms. (Netarsha (D. Cummings
Sunrise - Alpha Sunset - Omega
July 24, 1970 February 14, 2004
Thursday, February 19, 2004
Two Thirty Oclock in the Afternoon
The Qood Shepherd Baptist Church
Augusta, Georgia
The Rev. Marm's Mims, Pastor, Thankful Baptist Church ~ Officiating
The Rev. Clarence Moore ~Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Robert W. Turner, Jr. ~ Presiding
yl TKe Life of )yf
ffj Ms. Odetarsha CD. CummmgsX^
~ 9n Reminiscence ~
Lord, make us instruments of your Peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow
Love; where there is injury, Pardon; Where there is discord, Unity; where
there is doubt, Faith; Where there is despair, Hope; where there is darkness,
Light; Where there is sadness, Joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be
consoled as to Console; To be understood as to Understand; to be loved as to
Love: For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are Par-
doned; IT IS IN DYING THAT WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL
LIFE!!! ~ Prayer of St. Francis of Assissi
Ms. Netarsha D. Cummings, the charming, loving and industrious
daughter of Mr. James and Mrs. Madine Cummings, was born on July
24, 1970, in the beautiful Garden City of Augusta, Georgia. She was
the first born of two beautiful daughters, each of whom became each
others very best friend - a relationship which will last throughout Eter-
nity. Netarsha and Germaine became inseparable as the years unfolded.
The girls received parenting principles and ideals which caused them to
seek excellence on a daily basis. Netarsha helped to set the pace, for she
was never content with mediocrity in the educational, religious and so-
ciological components of her total growth and personal development.
She became Germaines Guardian Angel, so to speak.
It was from such a strong and consistent family-oriented upbringing that
Netarsha accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at a very
young and tender age. Upon her conversion, she was baptized in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost at the historic Thankful Bap-
tist Church, Blythe, Georgia. As a young adolescent, she enjoyed every
aspect of the total Church program and worked with persistence and
tremendous devotion in her native Thankful Baptist Church until she
chose to matriculate Albany State University, where she earned the
Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, in 1994. It is also worthy to
mention that her secondary educational acquisition, which she obtained
from the A.R. Johnson Health, Science and Engineering High School,
did much to equip her with the Academic prerequisites and skills needed
for collegiate endeavors and post-secondary scholastic challenges.
At the time of her demise and private voyage to that City Not Made by
Hands, Netarsha was gainfully and happily employed with the Georgia
Regional Hospital in Decatur, Georgia. Her primary duties there caused
her to be responsible for the teaching/instruction of all nursting students
at each level of the medicinal hierarchy. Her title was that ol Instructor
for the Skill Nursing Unit. Ms. Cummings knew both - the science and
the art of nursing and applied both with much skill and consistent pro-
fessionalism.
Tfu? Order of Service
Tbe (Rev. (Robert W. Turner, Jr. (Pb.D. - (Presiding
The Processional
Alleluia (Led by Dr. Turner)
The Congregational Hymn of Adoration
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
The Reading from the Holy Scriptures
The Old Testament - Rev. Paul H. Bush
The New Testament - Rev. Bobby G. Hankerson
The Lords Prayer
Ms. Freda Hughes
The Reflections and Expressions (2 Minutes)
As A Co-Worker and Colleague - Mr. William Elvan
As A Sorority Sister and Best Friend - Mrs. Stephanie Breedlove
As A Childhood Friend and Neighbor - Mrs. Pheneva Evans Parker
The Solo of Praise
Dea. Henry Stevens
The Reflections and Expressions (2 Minutes)
As A Christian Friend - Mr. Marcus Brinson
As A Dear and Loving Family Member - Mr. Shay Roundtree
The Solo of Triumph
Mrs. Norma Bass
The Acknowledgments and Gratitude
Ms. Veda Howard
The Silent Reading of the Biography of Netarsha D. Cummings
(Soft Instrumentation of Order My Steps)
The Eulogistic Message
Rev. Martis Mims
Pastor, Thankful Baptist Church, Blythe, GA
The Omega/Omega Ceremony
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The Recessional
Ill Fly Away - Rev. Dr. Robert W. Turner, Jr.
The Interment
Mt. Olive Memorial Gardens
The Fellowship and Repast
The Good Shepherd Fellowship Hall
Sunset and evening star and one clear call for me;
may there be no mourning at the bar when I put out to sea!
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
Although she was quite busy in her profession, she still found time to
give GOD His rightful time and His worthy praise. She exemplified the
Baptist Church Covenant when she united with the Elizabeth Baptist
Church in Atlanta, Georgia where Rev. Craig L. Oliver, Sr. is pastor.
She gave of her time and her resources with pride and an inexplicable
degree of self-satisfaction.
In addition to her Church participation and service, she was equally as
involved with the Delta Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Inc. She enjoyed wearing her sorority colors - Crimson and Cream!
When her immediate family members described Netarsha, they replied
as follows: Madine (Mother): My baby was loving, overly-caring, can-
did and straightforward, especially when it came to me; brought joy to
me by always striving to be a winner; she was just a very special child -
full of energy and always wore a smile.
James (Father): Tarsha was just a GOOD Child - she always expressed
her love for me by what she did for me - like fixin my lunch for the night
shift - making sure that I took care of my body (my health); I cant recall
her ever talking back to me, thats just the way she was - a wonderful
daughter, to say the least!
Germaine (Sister): She was supportive, benevolent, always placed me
and others ahead of herself, she would give until it hurt; my personal
fashion consultant - you see, Netarsha was the Diva of Fashions; she
always allowed me to be my own person - we were so different, yet so
close and we complimented each other - she was my biggest cheerleader
- always pushing me on and always backing me up in whatever I decided
to do or to become. Tarsha was my closest friend and my constant con-
fidant.
This phenomenal humanitarian - this woman of valor - this lady of com-
passion leaves a host of survivors who will continue their pilgrimage on
earth until they are summoned to that innumerable caravan where, one
day, they will join their beloved Netarsha in that land where no one
ever grows old. These include: a loving and devoted mother and father,
Mr. and Mrs. James & Madine Cummings; a wonderful and close sister,
Germaine Denise Cummings, M.D., Decatur, GA; five supportive aunts,
Ms. LaDonna Davis, Ms. Patricia A. Williams, Ms. Freda Hughes, and
Mrs. Tracy (Rickey) Murray, all of Augusta, GA and Mrs. Norma (Jerry)
Bass, Virginia Beach, VA; two prayerful uncles, Mr. Dennis Hughes,
Augusta, GA and Mr. Timothy (Shanna) Hughes, Atlanta, GA; two
very dear first cousins, Mrs. Audrey (Steve) Burton, TegaCay, SC and
Mr. Glenn Gaines, Augusta, GA; an adopted brother, Mr. Valantis F. Ali,
Augusta, GA; a large host of god-children, cousins, other relatives and
friends of devotion and distinction.