Mary Frances Nicely Cummings of Lexington passed away peacefully five days before her 95th birthday on Sunday, September 5, 2010, after a long and productive life. Many knew her as Muffin (which is derived from her first three initials MFN).
Mary Frances was born on September 10, 1915, in Rockbridge County, the daughter of the late Major Edward Nicely and Bessie Whitmore Nicely. After her mother's death in the flu epidemic of 1918, her father married Ruby Woody Nicely. After graduating from Lexington High School, she worked as a secretary for both LHS and W&L. In 1939, she married Russell Madison Cummings Sr. During their married life, Mr. and Mrs. Cummings raised three sons, shared the ownership of the Lexington Shoe Hospital, enjoyed working in a large garden, and co-directed the Northington Nature Camp, as well as bridge and poker with friends.
Mr. Cummings died in 1967. Mrs. Cummings was also predeceased by her sisters, Mildred Lynch and Bessie Mae Pultz.
Surviving are three sons, and their families, Charles Major Cummings, his wife, Karen, daughter, Tiffany Cummings, and granddaughter, Astrid; Russell Madison Cummings Jr., his wife, Pat, and son, Joshua, and daughters, Kristin Streed, husband, Bill, and sons, Owen and Griffin, Katherine Cummings, husband, Aaron Kloch, and daughter, Josephine Grace; Carl Francis Cummings, his wife, Linda, and sons, Russell and Jonathan. She also leaves behind one sister, Gince McCurdy, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends whose lives she touched.
During her long life, Mary Frances was involved in volunteer work and community service for the people of Lexington. She truly believed in one of her favorite quotes: "North, South, East, West, Lexington is the best." She served as the Executive Secretary of the Rockbridge Tuberculosis Association, and for 20 years she was Director of Christian Education and general factotum of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Lexington-Rockbridge County Historical Society and the LHS Alumni Association. Many people considered her an invaluable resource on the citizens and history of Lexington and Rockbridge County. She kept voluminous files, clippings, and old photographs, which she shared with family, friends, and generations of adopted children. Mary Frances was a member of the Planning Commission, the League of Women Voters, Lioness Club, Lexington Woman's Club, and followed other interests such as water conservation and recycling. Several years ago, she was named Citizen of the Year in Lexington, an honor that she proudly cherished.
Mary Frances chose many years ago to donate her body to the Virginia State Anatomical Board. You may honor her memory by donating to your favorite charity or performing volunteer work on her behalf.
There was a memorial service for Mary Frances Nicely Cummings at Lexington Presbyterian Church, Thursday, October 28, 2010, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
A private family burial was held at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Published in the Daily Progress on October 24, 2010
Mary Frances was born on September 10, 1915, in Rockbridge County, the daughter of the late Major Edward Nicely and Bessie Whitmore Nicely. After her mother's death in the flu epidemic of 1918, her father married Ruby Woody Nicely. After graduating from Lexington High School, she worked as a secretary for both LHS and W&L. In 1939, she married Russell Madison Cummings Sr. During their married life, Mr. and Mrs. Cummings raised three sons, shared the ownership of the Lexington Shoe Hospital, enjoyed working in a large garden, and co-directed the Northington Nature Camp, as well as bridge and poker with friends.
Mr. Cummings died in 1967. Mrs. Cummings was also predeceased by her sisters, Mildred Lynch and Bessie Mae Pultz.
Surviving are three sons, and their families, Charles Major Cummings, his wife, Karen, daughter, Tiffany Cummings, and granddaughter, Astrid; Russell Madison Cummings Jr., his wife, Pat, and son, Joshua, and daughters, Kristin Streed, husband, Bill, and sons, Owen and Griffin, Katherine Cummings, husband, Aaron Kloch, and daughter, Josephine Grace; Carl Francis Cummings, his wife, Linda, and sons, Russell and Jonathan. She also leaves behind one sister, Gince McCurdy, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends whose lives she touched.
During her long life, Mary Frances was involved in volunteer work and community service for the people of Lexington. She truly believed in one of her favorite quotes: "North, South, East, West, Lexington is the best." She served as the Executive Secretary of the Rockbridge Tuberculosis Association, and for 20 years she was Director of Christian Education and general factotum of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Lexington-Rockbridge County Historical Society and the LHS Alumni Association. Many people considered her an invaluable resource on the citizens and history of Lexington and Rockbridge County. She kept voluminous files, clippings, and old photographs, which she shared with family, friends, and generations of adopted children. Mary Frances was a member of the Planning Commission, the League of Women Voters, Lioness Club, Lexington Woman's Club, and followed other interests such as water conservation and recycling. Several years ago, she was named Citizen of the Year in Lexington, an honor that she proudly cherished.
Mary Frances chose many years ago to donate her body to the Virginia State Anatomical Board. You may honor her memory by donating to your favorite charity or performing volunteer work on her behalf.
There was a memorial service for Mary Frances Nicely Cummings at Lexington Presbyterian Church, Thursday, October 28, 2010, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
A private family burial was held at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Published in the Daily Progress on October 24, 2010
Mary Frances Nicely Cummings of Lexington passed away peacefully five days before her 95th birthday on Sunday, September 5, 2010, after a long and productive life. Many knew her as Muffin (which is derived from her first three initials MFN).
Mary Frances was born on September 10, 1915, in Rockbridge County, the daughter of the late Major Edward Nicely and Bessie Whitmore Nicely. After her mother's death in the flu epidemic of 1918, her father married Ruby Woody Nicely. After graduating from Lexington High School, she worked as a secretary for both LHS and W&L. In 1939, she married Russell Madison Cummings Sr. During their married life, Mr. and Mrs. Cummings raised three sons, shared the ownership of the Lexington Shoe Hospital, enjoyed working in a large garden, and co-directed the Northington Nature Camp, as well as bridge and poker with friends.
Mr. Cummings died in 1967. Mrs. Cummings was also predeceased by her sisters, Mildred Lynch and Bessie Mae Pultz.
Surviving are three sons, and their families, Charles Major Cummings, his wife, Karen, daughter, Tiffany Cummings, and granddaughter, Astrid; Russell Madison Cummings Jr., his wife, Pat, and son, Joshua, and daughters, Kristin Streed, husband, Bill, and sons, Owen and Griffin, Katherine Cummings, husband, Aaron Kloch, and daughter, Josephine Grace; Carl Francis Cummings, his wife, Linda, and sons, Russell and Jonathan. She also leaves behind one sister, Gince McCurdy, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends whose lives she touched.
During her long life, Mary Frances was involved in volunteer work and community service for the people of Lexington. She truly believed in one of her favorite quotes: "North, South, East, West, Lexington is the best." She served as the Executive Secretary of the Rockbridge Tuberculosis Association, and for 20 years she was Director of Christian Education and general factotum of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Lexington-Rockbridge County Historical Society and the LHS Alumni Association. Many people considered her an invaluable resource on the citizens and history of Lexington and Rockbridge County. She kept voluminous files, clippings, and old photographs, which she shared with family, friends, and generations of adopted children. Mary Frances was a member of the Planning Commission, the League of Women Voters, Lioness Club, Lexington Woman's Club, and followed other interests such as water conservation and recycling. Several years ago, she was named Citizen of the Year in Lexington, an honor that she proudly cherished.
Mary Frances chose many years ago to donate her body to the Virginia State Anatomical Board. You may honor her memory by donating to your favorite charity or performing volunteer work on her behalf.
There was a memorial service for Mary Frances Nicely Cummings at Lexington Presbyterian Church, Thursday, October 28, 2010, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
A private family burial was held at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Published in the Daily Progress on October 24, 2010
Mary Frances was born on September 10, 1915, in Rockbridge County, the daughter of the late Major Edward Nicely and Bessie Whitmore Nicely. After her mother's death in the flu epidemic of 1918, her father married Ruby Woody Nicely. After graduating from Lexington High School, she worked as a secretary for both LHS and W&L. In 1939, she married Russell Madison Cummings Sr. During their married life, Mr. and Mrs. Cummings raised three sons, shared the ownership of the Lexington Shoe Hospital, enjoyed working in a large garden, and co-directed the Northington Nature Camp, as well as bridge and poker with friends.
Mr. Cummings died in 1967. Mrs. Cummings was also predeceased by her sisters, Mildred Lynch and Bessie Mae Pultz.
Surviving are three sons, and their families, Charles Major Cummings, his wife, Karen, daughter, Tiffany Cummings, and granddaughter, Astrid; Russell Madison Cummings Jr., his wife, Pat, and son, Joshua, and daughters, Kristin Streed, husband, Bill, and sons, Owen and Griffin, Katherine Cummings, husband, Aaron Kloch, and daughter, Josephine Grace; Carl Francis Cummings, his wife, Linda, and sons, Russell and Jonathan. She also leaves behind one sister, Gince McCurdy, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends whose lives she touched.
During her long life, Mary Frances was involved in volunteer work and community service for the people of Lexington. She truly believed in one of her favorite quotes: "North, South, East, West, Lexington is the best." She served as the Executive Secretary of the Rockbridge Tuberculosis Association, and for 20 years she was Director of Christian Education and general factotum of the Lexington Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Lexington-Rockbridge County Historical Society and the LHS Alumni Association. Many people considered her an invaluable resource on the citizens and history of Lexington and Rockbridge County. She kept voluminous files, clippings, and old photographs, which she shared with family, friends, and generations of adopted children. Mary Frances was a member of the Planning Commission, the League of Women Voters, Lioness Club, Lexington Woman's Club, and followed other interests such as water conservation and recycling. Several years ago, she was named Citizen of the Year in Lexington, an honor that she proudly cherished.
Mary Frances chose many years ago to donate her body to the Virginia State Anatomical Board. You may honor her memory by donating to your favorite charity or performing volunteer work on her behalf.
There was a memorial service for Mary Frances Nicely Cummings at Lexington Presbyterian Church, Thursday, October 28, 2010, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
A private family burial was held at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Published in the Daily Progress on October 24, 2010
Inscription
C U M M I N G S
RUSSELL M.
MAR. 1, 1909
APR. 7, 1967
MARY FRANCES
SEPT. 10, 1915
SEPT. 5, 2010
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