. Rev. Donald Ray Cummings, 86, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, stepped into Heaven on September 27, 2019.  The eighth child of John Howard "Jahue" Cummings and Martha Carnes, he grew up in Sugar Creek Hollow, Charleston, West Virginia.  He graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in 1950.  Soon after, he noticed a pretty brown-eyed girl working at Blossom Dairy with his sister Norma.  He asked for an introduction and the rest is history.

Two daughters, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren resulted.  He and Delores Ann Whitlock were married in 1952 and moved to St. Albans where he began a twenty-year career with the US Post Office.  In 1963, while attending a Sword of the Lord Conference in North Carolina with his pastor Bruce Young, he felt God's call into full-time ministry.  With guidance from his high school friend and pastor of City Bible Center Church, Reid Jepson, Don enrolled in Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada.  There he received the nickname "Bigtime" from his good friend, Dave Sanders because in Dave's words, "Everything he did, he did in a big way."  Dave and Jenette remain good family friends to this day.

Upon graduation in 1968 he returned to pastor the Sattes Community Church in Nitro, WV, where he became lovingly known as "Pastor Don" for the rest of his life.  Through his leadership, determination, "git her done" attitude, and of course with God's blessing, the church grew and changed its location and name to Twin City Bible Church in 1977.

Pastor Don retired from the church in 1986 and began the HIS Advertising company.  His beloved Delores died unexpectedly in 2001 after 49 years of marriage.  In 2005 he met Nancy Stewart.  They were married, became "snowbirds" for a while, and eventually moved to Port Saint Lucie, Florida.  He always looked forward to returning to WV for those Memorial Day Family Reunions.  Don loved to go to yard sales, visit thrift stores, buying many hats and dress shoes (even though they did not fit).  He loved game nights which included playing Phase 10 and Double Dot Domino with good friends Rich and Earline Shepard.  And, by the way, don't let him talk you into a game of horseshoes; you will lose every time.  Another special couple that spanned both his WV and Florida days, Lillian and Jim Beck, introduced him to the jetty, where he loved to spend his mornings watching the boats.

Don was preceded in death by his beloved first wife Delores Whitlock Cummings, known as Dot to the many who loved her; parents, Jahue and Martha; his eight sisters, Mary, Mamie, Emma, Helen, Margaret, Mildred, Norma, and Wanda; and his four brothers, James, Charles, Golden, and Freddie.  Survivors include his wife Nancy Stewart Cummings; two daughters, Connie Alderman (Dan) of Greensboro, NC and Sherrie Van Puffelen (Rick) of Hilton Head Island, SC; four grandchildren Jeremy Alderman (Tegan), Erin Neely, Ryan VanPuffelen (Kelli) and Heather Lynch (Kevin);  seven great-grandchildren, Isaiah VanPuffelen, Noah VanPuffelen, Emma VanPuffelen, Jordan Lynch, Emerson Lynch, Liam Neely and McKinley Neely; and his sister Linda Stamper, of Portsmouth OH.  He is also survived by 30 nieces and nephews, and of course his favorite niece.......oh I can't read it!!!  He must have spilled some coffee.  I guess we will never know.

In his last week, he spoke with many people (many of you), letting you know how much he loved you and how much you meant to him. He always ended each phone call with "Call me if you need me!" and he meant it.  His final entry on his list of "After Departure Instructions" (he was always very controlling, even after he is gone) was to "live rejoicing."   May we grant his final wish!!

Pastor Don's Celebration of Life will be conducted on Saturday, November 2, at 2:00 pm, at First Baptist Church, in St. Albans, WV.  Visitation will be from 12:00pm until 1:45 pm.

An Online Guestbook is available by visiting www.treasurecoastseawinds.com