* >
I Published each Thursday since January 18,1973 I
I Carolina Indian Voice I
_ 9 ? ' ' ? V ?
5 " 5 S ke, NC Robeson County
2 '7>
"Building communicative bridges in a tri-racial setting"
z v -> ?
C m ... S\* ^
? , j NUMBER 51 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1?, 1??125 CENI8 PER COPY
a^M~i s r yui^
pi
Dr. ' tings travels long road to
fulf am of becoming doctor
j-LocUemr
- As a youth plowing farm rows in Robeson County
Samuel Made Cammiags dreamt of one day being able to
lay down mule reins for a stethoscope. He'd been told by
his beloved paternal grandmother that he was a special
child. And his father tokl him at an early age that he would
be a physician. Yet, the distance from a tobacco field in
ratal Pembroke seemed a world's distance to medical
school. .
Dr. Cummings took the long way around to realizing
his dream of becoming a physician.
-A
tie was oorn ana
raised the oldest
child of six born to
the Reverend Coot
idge M. Cummings
and Venice Lowry
Cummings, natives
of Robeson County.
When Dr. Cum
mings was (till a tod
dler his parents
moved to Louisville,
Kentucky where his
father entered semi
nary school. Several ?g^?
years later the fam- arena?*
ily moved bade to Robeson County for a brief slay before
returning to Kentucky where Rev. Cummings took a
pastorate.
Still dreaming of becoming a physician, Dr. Cummings
graduated from a Ky. high school in 1966. Afterwards, on
a three-sport athletic scholarship, he enrolled at Lamtath
College in Jackson, Tenn. where he studied pre-medicine
before dropping out after a three semester study.
"I qui^beqssreijvaan't sure whether 1 really wanted to
The Lumbee Indian says he enlisted in the military
because be thought serving would give him time to decide
what be really wanted to do. "And I thought it would lend
me ao opportunity to see a little bit of the world." As an
Air Force survival instructor he did just that when he
traveled to the Philippines, Guam and three times to
Vietnam (hiring the six and one half years he served.
"The school hug bit me, and I got out," he says of his
decision to leave military service. Dr. Cummings en
rolled in Eastern Washington State University where he
completed his undergraduate studies with a double major
in physics and education.
He also presents continuing medical education tor
nursing staff, as well m training with the immediate team
which supports die wounded grovnd forces in desert
storm. He provides lectures to nursing staff said emer
gency medical technician students on various obstetrical
topics and issues.
Dr. Cummiags says he likes his duty station because it
offers diversity in patient population and lends ptofcs
The forty-some-year-old Air Force mqjor has delivered
twcilm ants oftwini sinrri bring assigned to thnftnyal Air
Force Base and sang "Happy Birthday" to each as he has
done to the other more than 1,200 newborns he has
delivered.
"It's a spontaneous act," he smiles of his singing to the
newborns. i
An eagle feather of sorts was given Dr. Cummings
when he was made a medical consultant to the U.S.
Embassy in London. He counts the prestigious assign
ment among his most-proud of while serving in the
miliary.
The soft-spoken, modest physician plays down the feet
he is the first 'Nabve American to serve as medical
consultant to the-U.S. Embassy then.
And when the doctor, father of five grown daughters,
gets homesick far his native Robeson County he picks up
the telephone and calls bonne to his parents' home usually
two Sundays a month. He says this allows him an
opportunity to find out what "Mama" has cooked for
dinner, also a chance to talk with his siblings who usually
gather at the Cummings homeplace for a traditional
Sunday afternoon visit.
Staying in close touch with family is high on Dr.
Cumming's priority list. His family reciprocates. Last
July a maternal uncle made a surprise visit to England to
see Dr. Cummings. In a pinning ceremony Burlin Lowry
gave his beloved nephew the personal "Major leaves"
he'd earned decades earlier while serving as an Air Force
pilot It seemed only fitting that this uncle would appear
because he had earlier given Dr. Cummings his Captain
! bars...his first toy medical kit and his first golf chib.
Come two more years Samuel M. Cummings must
make a decision whether or not he will remain in military
service. He does not ponder the thought now.
He admits to having a curious mind. "I've always
wanted to see what's beyond the hill. Working for the
military is like working for a major corporation. It has
little shops all over the world."
The degree, coupled with a strong family bond, influ
enced him to return to his native county where he took a
teaching position at Fairgrove High School. He taught
physics and mathematics for two years at the school. And
though happy teaching, his dreams never wavered from
becoming a physician.
"I'd seen old friends who had gone to medical and law
schools.. .they were on a straight track. There had been no
school counselors to tell me I could enter medical school
at an older age," he comments.
With mind made up. Dr. Cummings says that dining his
second year of teaching at die public school, he applied
to dental school at UNC/Chapel Hill and was accepted.
He turned the offer down because whathareally wanted
to study ira mrrtirinn -
He lay down the eraser at Fairgrove School and entered
Pembroke State University as a full-time pre-med student
in order to complete intense chemistry courses. During
this period he walked nights as an orderly at Scotland
Cou^MmariaTHoq^iirih order to pay his tuition and
living expenses.
His dream of studying medicine began to develop when
he enrolled at UNC/Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He
had attended the school's summer MED program and says
he was impressed with his professors' philosophy that an
admissions process should be used in determining whether
one should become a physician. "They expected every
one who entered medical school to graduate," he says.
He lived on campus and his study was financed by
scholarships and grants from a Native American
association..."And money and food from relatives," he
interjects.
His dream of earning his medical degree came true
when he graduated from UNC in 1985. His medical
specialty - Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was complet
ing his medical residency at New Hanover Hospital in
Wilmington, NC when "Uncle Sam" contacted him to
come serve again in the military.
Td never been to Europe and told them I'd go back into
the Air Force if I could be assigned to a station there," he
laughs. His request was granted. He serves in the medical
corps at the Royal Air Force Base in Lakenheath, En
gland.
Dr. Cummings is assistant chairman of the department
ofObstetrics and Gynecology. His clinic provides outpa
tient care for 150-200 ob/gyn patients per month. As
assistant chairman he is a member of the department's
medical records utilization review committee and super
vises a cerunea miawire
For now he says he is content in singing "Happy
Birthday" to newborn babies he delivers; attending the
atre performances with his wife, Nancy; and keeping in
touch with relatives in Robeson County who still live
across the road from the fields he plowed as a young boy
who dreamed of becoming a physician.
Cynthia Locklear wins SGH Golden
Rule Award .
Cynthia LockUwr, a volunteer with Hoepice of Robe eon,
bat tuon the Golden Rule award for the month of October.
Hut award it pretently monthly to that perron mho beet
demonetratet pride m the SOU Healthcare Corporation
and a caring attitude to gneeti and employeet.
tin. Loddear hoe worked at a Hotpice volunteer eince
Hay 19SS, end it the frrrt volunteer to win thu award. She
it a native of Robe ton County end a graduate of Magnolia
High School She, hatband Timothy Paul and > children,
Thnma and Thu, U, hue in the Union Chapel area.
On ncahdng the award, tin. LacMrnr eaid the laared
the "do onto othen" principle from her mother at a chOi.
"Hove people," the added. "Meeting people't need"t
and doing lomrthmg potitive an the awl important
thingr in my life."
At ? Golden Rule winner, tin. loddear nceived ?
plague, a pentnaI parting epaee for the month, MO Aa
oath, and a chance in the far a i day tmeatitn
aaatfML
The Music Ministries of Prospect United Methodist
Church, Route 3, Maxton, will present the Musical THE
SONG on Sunday atoning, December 22 at 19:49
The public is invited to came and ceiehrate with the
Chancel Chair, Youth Chair, and Childrens Chair as
they lead In the worship of Jesus Christ and the praise
of Hi* birth. Then will be sole*, specie! lighting mod
other effect* to askance the musical production. The
musical will be directed by Mr. Harold D Jacob* end
narrated by Ms. Doris Hunt o*?4 Mr. David Oxendine.
The pastor, her. BiU James Locklear, and the congre
gation, cordially invites the public to attend.
Participants in Pembroke Christmas Parade
Union CHapel School" i 1991-99 King and Queen were
ymtkipantt m flmtrdU'i annual Ckrietmas parade.
They were recently toieeted at a fund-raiting event at
Union Chapel Shown left to right art Kelly Hunt,
grandson of Renter and Peggy Oxendme; end Chorion*^
LockLtar, daughter of Kenneth end Pkydie loddear. The
King end Queen art Uh grade etndente m Me. Under
Hunt'* date.
win ail tko ropro$ontativot for king and qnoon
competition at a rwctnt fund-raumg *v?ni at Urnom
Ckapal School
Community Briefs
friendship Missionary Baptist Church will prsent ?
Christmas Cantata, "Emmanuel" on Sunday. December
22. 1881 at 10:80 a.m. The pastor. Collidfe M.
Cumminfs. invites the public to attend. The church is
located on Pembroke hooped Road. Pembroke. NC.
T?n Mil* C*nt*r Baptist Church on Highway SOI. 7
mi)** North of Lumtwrton, will hav* a 11 v* Nativity 8mm
on D*c*mb*r 20. 21, and 22 from 5 until 0p.m.
Th* pastor is Rwv. Eamsy Hammonds.
Say %ou 3tout Ot On
The Carolina Ondlan Voice