Sarahellen (McPike) Cummings

Obituary We share joy as we celebrate the life of Sarahellen McPike Cummings. Sarahellen received her heavenly wings on October 13, 2019. Her final days on earth were spent surrounded by loving family and friends. On March 30, 1931, the family of Reverend Theodore McPike and Lottie Corrine Watkins McPike were blessed with Sarahellen’s birth. She was welcomed to the family by her older sister Myrtle Bernice. With the early and untimely death of her father, Sarah (as most called her) had the advantages of an extended family of loving uncles, aunts and cousins who guided her through childhood. Her mother, Lottie later married Alfred Hampton and he became a strong, positive male presence in Sarah’s life. Sarah was educated in the Kansas City Public Schools and graduated high school from Lincoln High School in 1948 and then attended the Kansas City, Missouri Junior College. Sarah was joined in marriage to Larthey Richard Cummings Sr. (aka Luqmann Hamza) in 1949. From that union four loving children were born, Brenda Carrol Cummings Smith, Larthey Richard Cummings Jr., Cynthia Denise Cummings and Kevin Andre’ Cummings. Sarah was a strong, motivated and determined woman and mother. She always wanted the best for her family. She was employed for thirty years with the Social Security Administration Payment Center in Kansas City and retired in 1987 as a benefits authorizer. Sarah would tell anyone who asked that her greatest achievement was her family. She enjoyed the company of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family would never miss an opportunity to celebrate holidays, birthdays and other events with large gatherings filled with food, fun and lots of love. Sarah’s church family was of vital importance to her as well. Her commitment and devotion to working and worshiping at Bethel AME Church was a major part of her life beginning as a very young child when she accepted Christ. Sarah served as a leader of Usher Board # 2 at Bethel, she led the bereavement ministry to assure that families were cared for with respect and comfort during losses and she also proudly served as president of the Stewardess Board of Bethel AME. As president she worked hard along with the ministerial staff to see that worship was holy and reverent. In addition, Sarah was honored as a lifetime member of Bethel AME Lay Organization. Sarahellen McPike Cummings was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, sister and eldest son, Larthey Jr. She is survived by her two daughters, Brenda and Cynthia, son Kevin (Rose), grandchildren Candace, Frank Jr., Crystal, Tiffany, Teresa, Bryan, Kevin Jr., Anthony and Sharon. She also leaves great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, cousins and a host of friends and neighbors. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at Bethel AME Church 2329 Flora Avenue KCMO 64108. Visitation 9:00 a.m. Interment Brooking Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sarahellen (McPike) Cummings, please visit our floral store. Read More

Sarahellen (McPike) Cummings

March 30, 1931 - October 13, 2019