Rosemary Naef Cummings, a native of Mobile and longtime resident of the Eastern Shore, died Monday, April 11, 2011.
She graduated from Visitation, Barry University and earned a Masters degree from South Alabama. In her earlier career, she spent 15 years in communications, public relations, advertising, radio, and television, including anchoring Hostess House, a Mobile variety television show.
She organized the recreational therapy program for the Rotary Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Clinic and served as its director. She was public information and blood program director for the Mobile Chapter of the American Red Cross, and later served as public relations and consumer relations director for Smith’s Bakery Inc.
She began her academic career teaching at Mary B. Austin, and also taught at St. Ignatius. She later served as academic dean and director of St. Paul’s Episcopal School where she was the coordinator for their accreditation by the State of Alabama, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. She was also instrumental in assisting Bayside Academy receive its accreditation. In 1971, she was selected by Freedoms Foundation as one of the outstanding teachers in the nation.
In 1975, she was named the first director of Volunteer Mobile. A recipient of the M.O. Bealle Scroll of Merit, she was the first woman elected to serve on the Mobile Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She served as president of the Gamma Xi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Honor Society, was chairperson of the Reader’s Digest National Public Speaking Contest, and was a recipient of a scholarship to attend Brigham Young University’s summer Seminar. As an art teacher, she taught hundreds of people in North Carolina and Alabama how to paint in oils and watercolors, create artistic quilts, and work in stained glass, ceramics, and gems. Also an accomplished artist, she was the first Yancey County, N.C., winner of the North Carolina State Crafts Competition.
She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Fairhope.
Survivors include her husband, Jack D. Cummings of Fairhope; six children, Michael and David Dexter of Semmes, Cathy (Tom) Bradley, Reid (Rebecca) Cummings, Kelly (Maria) Cummings, and Susan (Mike) Guillotte, all of Mobile; eight grandchildren, Carra (Damon) Smith of Lexington, Ky., Ryan Cummings, Abigail Bradley, Codey Cummings, Mary Chamberlin Cummings, Samantha Guillotte, Rachael Guillotte, all of Mobile, and Christine (Buck) Pettus of Morristown, N.J.; sister, Joan (Dickie) Pate of Dallas; brother, Jon (Judy) Naef of Daphne; and her beloved caregiver, Wanda (Don) Haynes.
Graveside services will be held at the Montrose Cemetery at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Salvation Army.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope. Online at www.wolfefuneralhome.net.
