Sareta Ann Cowger Cummins

Sareta Ann Cummins, age 86 years, of Greenville, SC, died on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. 

     She was born July 8, 1937 at the Cowger family homeplace east of Hidalgo, Illinois, the second child of Charles & Wilba (Thomas) Cowger. Sareta was a bit of a tomboy growing up, and her childhood dream was to become the first female first baseman for the Chicago Cubs. But the Lord had other plans for her life. Having trusted Christ as Savior as a child, she confirmed it while in college. At this time her third-grade sweetheart came back into her life. She had not seen David since her family had left Hidalgo when she was still young. On June 20, 1959, she married David Ray Cummins, Sr. in Caledonia, Illinois. He was still in the U.S. Air Force and had 15 months left till he would get out. Again, God had other plans than what was their simple one. David was sent overseas for those 15 months and could not take any dependents with him. So, they were married and afterwards drove to Charleston, SC where David flew out to Tripoli, Libya. Sareta drove back home and taught school in Belvedere, Illinois. They did not see each other again until he returned at the end of this time. But again, God was working in their lives. For Sareta, she would have a ministry to women who had to be away from their husbands for extended times or even ones who their plans didn’t work out, and it was hard to trust God. She had personal experience with what they were going through. As a Pastor’s wife she said that she learned what that meant and how to be the best one she could, while they were at Southside Baptist Church in Greenville, and she learned from Elizabeth Rice Handford on the job. From that ministry, David and Sareta would be used of God mightily over the next six decades to minister in several places. Sareta was always at her husband’s side helping in what way she could in each church. Not always easy work but always blessings could be seen as the work of the Lord was forwarded. She was amazed at what they were able to do and see only because they followed where God led them. Surviving are her children: Julia (Mark) Allison of Lexington, Texas; Janelle (Carl) Moore of Greenville, SC; Jill (Brent) Herron of Forest City, NC; and David (Nicole) Cummins of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; her grandchildren: Caleb, Jenna, Christen, Kara, Jerid, Jordan, and Olivia; and her great-grandchildren: Annie, Grayson, and Sydney. She was preceded in death by her husband David Ray Cummins, Sr., her parents, grandparents, sister Reeta Beecham, and brother William Cowger. “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.”

     A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 2^nd at Heritage Baptist Church at Crestview in Fountain Inn, SC with Reverend Nate Beam officiating. The family will greet friends from 10:00 until 10:45 am at the church on the day of the service. A graveside service will be conducted Monday, March 4^th at 11:00 am in the Aten Cemetery in Hidalgo, Illinois.