Gordon Newell Cummings

Gordon Newell "Newt" Cummings, 88, of Charleston, South Carolina, husband of Doris Montgomery Cummings entered into eternal rest Thursday, April 4, 2013. His Funeral Service will be held Sunday, April 7, 2013 in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, 232 Calhoun Street, at 2:00 p.m. Interment, Live Oak Memorial Gardens with Military Honors. The family will receive friends Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Stuhr's Downtown Chapel.

Newt was born January 4, 1925 in Montgomery, Alabama, son of James Gordon Cummings and Edna Earle Ulmer Cummings. He graduated from Murray Vocational High School, Charleston, SC in 1941 and was a graduate of Clemson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Industrial Education in 1951. While at Clemson Military College he was in the Reserve Officers Training Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant in Clemson Corps of Cadets. Newt served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII and in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. During his military service he was awarded the APT Service medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal and the American Theatre Medal. He retired as an Electrical Engineer with Southern Naval Facilities Engineering Command after 30 years of government service in 1983.

Newt was a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church. He loved fishing, camping, hunting, water skiing and spending time outdoors with his children and grandchildren at his lake house in Eutawville, SC. His passion was shagging in the early 50s on the Folly Pier where he met Doris, his wife of 57 years. He was a life member of Pivots Beach Club and a member of the Charleston Shag Club.

He is survived by his son, Gordon Newell Cummings, Jr. (Rhonda) of Charleston, SC; two daughters: Phyllis Nell Cummings of Charleston, SC, Felicia C. Shealor (Malcolm) of Mount Pleasant, SC; five grandchildren: Nikki Cummings Slawson, Justin Montgomery Cummings, Julia Elizabeth Shealor, Jessica Maria Shealor, Ashley Todd Shealor; three great grandchildren: Jordan, Johnathon and Joseph Slawson; two sisters: Faustina Cummings Mahaffey of Charleston, SC and Lottie Cummings Hudgens of Florence, SC.

Memorials may be made to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 413 Geddes Avenue, Charleston, SC 29407 or to the Hospice of Charleston, 4975 LaCross Road, Ste. 200, North Charleston, SC 29406.