Mr. Cummins’ Funeral.
The Services were Conducted at His Late Residence on Rayburn Avenue Yesterday Afternoon.
JAMES HOLMES CUMMINS | The funeral of the Hon. Holmes Cummins was conducted in a most impressive manner yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock at his late residence, 216 Rayburn avenue, by Rev. N. M. Woods, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. A large number of the friends of the deceased filled the two parlors. Dr. Woods read the fifteenth chapter of First Chronicles, on the certainty of the resurrection of the dead, and also a portion of the seventh chapter of Revelations. His prayer was a most fervent one. The choir, consisting of Mrs. Worman, Mrs. Gage, Mr. Viser and Dr. Farrington, sang Cardinal Newman’s great hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light,” “Come, Ye Disconsolate” and “How Firm a Foundation.” the pallbearers were Messrs. William H. Carroll, L. B. McFarland, W. A. Gage, C. W. Schulte, W. A. Percy, James E. Beasley, L. H. Estes and N. M. Jones. The floral tributes were numerous and handsome, one of the most striking being a pall made of roses and ferns, covering the entire casket – the gift of Mrs. Holmes Cummins, Jr.
Immediately after the ceremony the family went to the Illinois Central depot with the remains, where they took the night train for St. Louis. Mr. Harahan, general manager of the road, had kindly placed at their disposal a private car. In St. Louis today the remains will be cremated, according to the expressed wish of Mr. Cummins. On tomorrow the ashes, encased in the casket, will be brought back to Covington, where the final interment will occur at 10 o’clock. The pallbearers for the final interment will be C. B. Sanford, William Sanford, Jas. I. Hall, D. J. Wood, S. R. Shelton and Peyton J. Smith.
Yesterday morning the bar of Memphis met in the Chancery Courtroom to take action on the death of Hon. Holmes Cummins.
Judge James M. Greer called the meeting to order, after which Maj. H. C. Warriner was made chairman and C. H. Trimble secretary. Upon motion of Judge L. P. Cooper, feelingly expressed, a committee of five was appointed to prepare a suitable memorial on the life and character of the deceased, and also to draft resolutions expressing the sentiments of the bar relative to the grief and sympathy the occasion awakened.
The committee, as appointed, consists of Hon. L. P. Cooper, Hon. James M. Greer, Gen. Luke E. Wright, W. A. Percy and Judge S. P. Walker.
On motion of R. G. Brown the following gentlemen were appointed honorary pallbearers: R. G. Brown, Lep Lehman, James H. Malone, E. F. Adams, M. B. Trezevant, J. M. Greer, Henry Craft, K. D. McKellar, S. J. Shepherd and T. B. Edgington.
It was next decided that the honorary pallbearers and as many of the lawyers as could assemble should meet at 3:30 o’clock on the corner of Madison and Main streets for the purpose of proceeding directly to the home of the deceased, that they might attend the funeral in a body.
After this the meeting adjourned until next Monday at 10 o’clock, when it will receive the resolutions and the memorial which the committee will have prepared.
[Mr Cummins’ Funeral; The Commercial Appeal; Memphis, Tenn; 27 Oct 1896; Pg 3]
Holmes Cummins Legislature Candidate
Holmes Cummins, Esq., of Covington, was, on the 1st inst., nominated by a convention, as a candidate to represent Tipton county in the next legislature. Mr. Cummins is a young man of splendid ability, and will be elected, and will make a first rate member, too.
[Whig and Tribune, Jackson, Tenn., 13 Jul 1872]