I have just returned home after attending
the Funeral Mass and Burial for Charles Cummings. It was indeed
a very fond farewell.
Last night I went to the wake which was held at Grace Episcopal
Church on Broad Street - between City Hall and the Federal Building.
Our own Glenn Geisheimer was there also as were many, many, of Charles'
co-workers, friends, and city officials. His closed coffin was placed
right in front of the altar - a special tribute to Charles because
as I understand it only the Priests of the Parish are normally laid
out in the church.
This morning the funeral Mass was at 10am officiated by The Reverend
J. Carr Holland III who gave a beautiful and moving homily about
Charles. The church was packed. Those in attendance were a cousin
of his who came to Newark just for his funeral, his co-workers from
the Library, his friends, and many of the Powers-To-Be here in Newark
including Mayor Sharpe James and Essex County Sherriff Armando Fontoura.
After the Mass the funeral cortege had a police escort all the
way along Broad Street. The flags at City Hall and the Libray were
at half-mast. As we passed each of the churches along Broad Street
- Grace Church; Trinity Church by Military Park; the House Of Prayer
church by Clay Street; and others - I could hear the bells tolling
in Charles' Honor.
Charles is burried near the front entrance of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
- a cemetery which he told me many times that he loved. After the
burial the people were invited back to the home of Liz Del Tufo
- another one of Newark's treasures - on Ballantine Parkway for
refreshments.
Charles Cummings - Faithful Servant of the People Of Newark -
may you Rest In Peace.
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