David Ray Cummins, Sr.

David Ray Cummins, Sr., age 84 years 10 months and 6 days, of Greenville, SC, died at 2:10am Monday morning, September 13, 2021. He was born Saturday, November 7, 1936 at the “Old Homeplace” west of Rose Hill, Illinois, the eldest child of Euwell & Virginia (Utley) Cummins. David was saved at a young age while attending the last Tent Meeting in Jasper County, Illinois, where after one of the services he and his mother went forward to accept Jesus as their Saviour. He has often said that he knew when he got up from his knees that the Lord was calling him to preach. David married his elementary school sweetheart, Sareta Ann Cowger, June 20, 1959 in Caledonia, Illinois. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War in which he had a part. His greatest privilege and love was to study, share, and preach God’s Word. He would preach no matter how he felt, and it was hard for him to turn over his pulpit to others. He loved to lead the most obstinate person to see the love of God and follow him. He was so amazed that God Almighty would send his Son to die for all mankind so that we could dwell with Him forever. “Man of Sorrows” by Philip Bliss was his favorite hymn. The Lord led David and Sareta to be a part of many ministries and churches throughout their 62 years together. From South Carolina to Illinois to Arizona to Kansas City to North Carolina and to Germany. With short trips to Hawaii and many other places to minister. There will be a memorial service in Greenville, Thursday, September 16 at 3:30pm at Crestview Baptist in Fountain Inn, S.C. Then there will be a graveside service at Aten Cemetery, Hidalgo, Illinois 11:00am Saturday September 18th. Surviving are his wife Sareta; children: Julia (Mark) Allison of Lexington, Texas; Janelle (Carl) Moore of Greenville, S.C.; Jill (Brent) Herron of Forest City, N.C.; and David (Nicole) Cummins of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; grandchildren, Caleb, Jenna, Christen, Kara, Jerid, Jordan, and Olivia; and great-granddaughter Annie. He was preceded in death, to be met in glory, by his parents and grandparents. “We bid thee not ‘Farewell,’ but only for a little while ‘Goodnight.’ Thou shalt rise soon, ‘at the first dawn of the Resurrection day of the redeemed; but yet it is not ours to bid ‘Farewell,’ but thine. It is we who linger in the darkness. Thou art in God’s own light. Here for a little while shall rest thy precious dust, then shall thy well-beloved come and His voice shall cause thee to spring up from thy couch. Until then we will praise God for thee, and by the blood of the everlasting covenant, expect to praise God with Thee.”