Geraldine Inez Cummings

Geraldine Inez Winthrop Cummings, 70, of Charlotte, NC, died on February 25, 2021, at the Levine and Dickson Hospice House at Southminster. Geraldine, or “Gerri” or “Gerle” as affectionately called by friends and close family, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 5,1950, the sixth and youngest child to the union of Dan Brown Winthrop and Esther Askew Winthrop. She was adopted into the family of God at Friendship Baptist Church in Cleveland at age 12. Always exceeding in scholarship, she attended Cleveland public schools and graduated from East High in 1968. She was in the first graduating class of the experimental all-girls public middle school, Lulu Diehl. From there, as a life-long learner through her elder years, she earned Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees as well as a graduate certificate and other certificates and designations, from Howard University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College and nationally recognized professional organizations. Even through all the learning, she never walked in life thinking that or acting like she was above others. Married in 1979 to Jerry Cummings, she became mother to son Jamil W. Cummings, also known as Jamil Ami El, and an infant daughter, who pre-deceased her. Shortly thereafter, she received inspiration to raise her son as a divorced single parent with much support from family and friends. Her greatest joy in life was endeavoring to walk in faith. Not a perfect person by any stretch, she lived the life that she thought would please the Creator. She believed in serving and shared her noteworthy corporate and non-profit sector work experiences, knowledge and abilities through volunteering for many organizations including: Big Sisters of Cleveland Ohio; Charlotte Community Building Initiative/Conflict Resolution; founding member of Charlotte Northeast Optimist Club; Diamonds Work Program creator and Rain Team member for Walls Memorial AME Zion church; Board of Directors Matthews Grove Home Owners; Board of Directors University North Carolina State Employee Credit Union; Charlotte Affordable Care Act Health Navigator; Siskey YMCA; Calvary Church Place of Hope; Healthy Churches 2020 and many others. Most recently, she had been working for Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region where she was instrumental in creating the Chameleon’s Journey Grief Camp. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Most important to Gerri, however, was the time spent with family and friends. She will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who were blessed to know her. She leaves to mourn; her son Jamil; a brother Tony Winthrop of Tampa, Florida; nephews: Jeffrey Johnson of Madison, Wisconsin, Tony Harden and William Lockett of Cleveland, Ohio; her nieces, Audrey Watson and Bonita Johnson of Chicago, Illinois, Debra Baines and Angela Williams of Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and a special cousin Clarice M. McNeily of Cleveland, Ohio; her dear friends and confidantes Sharmel Nelson of Orlando, Florida; Dr. Marcella Atwater of Durham, NC; Ruby Lewis of Mint Hill, NC; Dr. Cynthia Bradley-King of Pittsburgh, PA and Joseph Murray of Mitchellville, MD. Gerri is further survived by numerous other relatives and friends including those whose lives she touched through the legacies her talents left behind. Always looking out for others, Gerri worked with the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home in planning everything before her passing. Upon her passing, Lowe-Neddo was privileged to continue her plans and care for the family. A memorial service in her honor will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 am on Saturday, April 10, at The Pauline Tea Bar Apothecary, 2326 Arty Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28208. Please take a moment to visit Gerri’s online Tribute Wall and share your favorite memory, photo or video with friends and family. Thank you for keeping all in thought and prayer during this time.

Geraldine Inez Cummings

April 5, 1950 - February 25, 2021