David J. Cummings, 71, of Vass went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. David died peacefully surrounded by his family, including his wife of 51 years, Wanda.
A time of visitation will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Cox Memorial Funeral Home in Vass. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Open Arms Community Church in Vass with Pastor John Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the Johnson Grove Cemetery in Vass.
Born in Southern Pines, David married the love of his life, his Union Pines High School sweetheart on June 25, 1972, and together they built a family, a farm, and a life of public service that he treasured.
David was a gentle giant with a servant’s heart. He was a retired Captain of the Moore County Rescue Squad #2 where his service began at the young age of sixteen and continued for more than forty years. He led the department through a time of significant increase in call volume with an all-volunteer agency before there was county-wide Advance Life Support. David was a member of the 1971 World Rescue Championship Team, which was won by the Vass Rescue Squad. He continued to share his experience and passion as a first responder up until his death as he served as the current President of the Cypress Pointe Fire/ Rescue Board of Directors.
As a life-long resident of Moore County, voters trusted David to serve as a Moore County Commissioner for nearly a decade from 1998-2006, and he served as chairman of the Moore County Commission from 2005-2006. He was well respected and extremely loyal to those he served and worked alongside. He always used a commonsense approach to decision making and often warned people “not to out-think their common sense.”
David loved meeting people in the community. With a warm smile and compassionate heart, he met and served countless grieving families, as he worked part time at Cox Memorial Funeral Home. David also served on the Boards for North Carolina Farm Bureau, First Bank, and the Friends of the Vass Library. In 2007 David was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pines Award.
Affectionately called “Pa” by many, David farmed chickens and tobacco and cared for goats and donkeys at The Cummings Farm for more than three decades. He loved his family deeply, as well as his friends at Open Arms Community Church.
David was preceded in death by his parents Warren “Buddy” and Rosa Cummings, and his sister Vickie Hicks.
David is survived by his wife, Wanda; daughters, Asheley Allred (Richard) of Vass and Tara Thompson (Scott) of Mt. Pleasant, N.C.; four grandchildren, Samantha Allred, Jonathan Hally, and Sophie and David Thompson; brother, Gary Cummings (Portia) of Vass, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Open Arms Community Church in Vass or Cypress Pointe Fire and Rescue.
Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory of Vass.
