Mrs. Sara Ann Cummings' Obituary
Sara Ann Cummings, 83, entered eternal life peacefully on October 3, 2015 with her family at her bedside at Blue Water Hospice Home, Marysville.
Sara was born October 11, 1931 in Gadsden, Alabama, the first born of four children to Earl W. Roberts and Carra Belle Gulledge Roberts. She graduated from Calhoun County High School (Oxford High School) in the class of 1949. Throughout her school years, Sara was always involved in extracurricular activities, especially in her senior year of high school. She had a gifted singing voice and was a member of the school Choral and also the Ensemble, a group 5 or 6 of the most talented female voices in the Choral. She was the editor of the school newspaper, “The Stinger”, named so after the school mascot “The Yellow Jackets”. She was a talented prose writer. Sara won a statewide oratorical contest sponsored by the Birmingham (Ala.) News. Sara’s speech was entitled “Civil Rights for All Americans”.
Sara entered Jacksonville State Teachers College in the fall of 1949 in the college’s School of Music majoring in voice. She had to drop out of school in her junior year for financial reasons. She took the federal civil services examination and was hired as a secretary in the Chemical Corps School at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
In 1953 Sara met John Cummings who was then stationed at Fort McClellan, were engaged the following June and were married on June 25th, 1955 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Anniston, Alabama. The newlyweds made their home in Detroit while John completed his undergraduate work and law school and Sara transferred her civil service grade to work for the Army at historic Fort Wayne and her top secret classification to work for the Signal Corps at Willow Run Airport.
Sara, with her family, moved to the Blue Water Area in July 1964 when her husband opened his law office practice. The couple then had four children. Sara was recovering from severe injuries sustained in a Memorial Holiday weekend automobile accident but she didn’t let this hinder her involvement in church and community affairs. She was elected President of the Port Huron Area Newcomers Club for its 1965-66 year and the club flourished under her leadership. Sara was awarded an Associate in Sciences (Nursing), Magna Cum Laude, and she finished first in her class of 1972 from St. Clair County Community College. She also received her Bachelor of General Studies with honors from Wayne State University in 1981.
One of the great joys of her life was signing with the Chorus of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Port Huron and friendship she had with the chorus director Sr. Gloria Korhonen, O.P. Sara also learned to play bridge and became an avid player of the game.
In the late 80’s when the late Joanna Marone started publishing the BWL & BN (Blue Water Legal & Business News), Sara was recruited by her to write a column for the paper. Sara was excited by the challenge. Her column, “On the Distaff Side”, was soon the most popular feature of the paper. The late Judge Jim Corden called Sara St. Clair County’s Irma Bombeck.
Sara was a long time member and ardent supporter of the National & Michigan Democratic parties, as well as the ACLU.
Sara was predeceased by her parents and brother, Jerry W. Roberts. She is survived by her husband, John of St. Clair, daughter Therese A. (Terry) Cummings of Buda, TX and Carole A. (Richard) Kliemann of Marysville; sons Mark R. Cummings of Phoenix, AZ and Paul J. (Rochelle) Cummings of Lowell, MI; ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild with a second great-grandchild expected in December; brothers William (Pamela) Roberts of Rome, GA and Edward C. (Sandy) Roberts of Monroe, GA.
Funeral Mass will be Thursday, October 8th at 12:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Clair. Visiting hours are Tuesday 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Young Funeral Home, China Twp. and Thursday 11:00 to 12:00 at church prior to mass. A rosary recital will be Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Private family interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, St. Clair. Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul or Blue Water Hospice Home. To leave a message of comfort please visit www.youngfuneralservices.com
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