1929
James
2020
James C. Cummings
September 22, 1929 — April 23, 2020
James C. Cummings, Jr., Founder of Indiana Black Expo and the National Black Republican Council
Indianapolis, Indiana
September 22, 1929 to April 23, 2020
Founder of Indiana Black Expo and the National Black Republican Council James C. Cummings, Jr., died April 23rd at age 90 in a Carmel, Ind., nursing home after suffering a heart attack. Born in Indianapolis on September 22, 1929, Cummings earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Indiana Central University and served as a Sergeant in the Korean War.
In 1971, he led a team of community leaders to inaugurate Indiana Black Expo, a major exposition of African American culture, business, history and entertainment. Cummings developed Black Expo into one of the state's most popular Indiana Convention Center attractions. This week-long event still thrives today, annually attracting about 500,000 visitors to the state and generating millions of dollars in convention and tourism revenue.
During the late 1970s, Cummings founded the National Black Republican Council and served as its director at the Republican National Committee, overseeing operations in 20 states. Cummings played a pivotal role in the election of President Ronald Reagan, and President Reagan appointed Cummings Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1985. Among other distinctions, Cummings had the privilege of meeting and being photographed with every Republican President from Dwight D. Eisenhower to President George W. Bush, who was the keynote speaker at a 2005 Indiana Black Expo Corporate Luncheon in honor of Cummings' dynamic vision and service.
Cummings, who got his start as a reporter and photographer for the Indianapolis Recorder, also put his stamp on Indianapolis through his business, Cummings Real Estate. The company specialized in buying and selling residential and commercial properties throughout the city.
Cummings was married to Norma L. Cummings until her death in 2014. Survivors include his brothers John Timothy Cummings and Eugene Jarrett Cummings; his children and their spouses, Cynthia Elaine Cummings (Mary Hunsche), James Cornelius Cummings III (Karlotta Cummings), Cecilia Eileen Cummings (Stephen Glynn), Ronald Lee Cummings (Lisa Bradley) and Claudia Elissa Cummings (Michael Rains); his grandchildren Deraun Cummings Coleman, Sheena Sophia Cummings, Nicole Yvette Cummings, Flannery Amber Cummings-Glynn, Schuyler Brian Cummings-Glynn, Joffrey Price Cummings-Glynn, Nicholas Payton Cummings Rains and Victoria Faith Cummings; and his step-grandchildren Cleveland Brown, David Brown and Sevira Brown. Cummings is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren.
A private burial is being arranged by Indiana Funeral Care and the family is planning a future memorial gathering. Donations may be sent to Indiana Black Expo, 601 N. Shortridge Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219.
Indianapolis, Indiana
September 22, 1929 to April 23, 2020
Founder of Indiana Black Expo and the National Black Republican Council James C. Cummings, Jr., died April 23rd at age 90 in a Carmel, Ind., nursing home after suffering a heart attack. Born in Indianapolis on September 22, 1929, Cummings earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Indiana Central University and served as a Sergeant in the Korean War.
In 1971, he led a team of community leaders to inaugurate Indiana Black Expo, a major exposition of African American culture, business, history and entertainment. Cummings developed Black Expo into one of the state's most popular Indiana Convention Center attractions. This week-long event still thrives today, annually attracting about 500,000 visitors to the state and generating millions of dollars in convention and tourism revenue.
During the late 1970s, Cummings founded the National Black Republican Council and served as its director at the Republican National Committee, overseeing operations in 20 states. Cummings played a pivotal role in the election of President Ronald Reagan, and President Reagan appointed Cummings Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1985. Among other distinctions, Cummings had the privilege of meeting and being photographed with every Republican President from Dwight D. Eisenhower to President George W. Bush, who was the keynote speaker at a 2005 Indiana Black Expo Corporate Luncheon in honor of Cummings' dynamic vision and service.
Cummings, who got his start as a reporter and photographer for the Indianapolis Recorder, also put his stamp on Indianapolis through his business, Cummings Real Estate. The company specialized in buying and selling residential and commercial properties throughout the city.
Cummings was married to Norma L. Cummings until her death in 2014. Survivors include his brothers John Timothy Cummings and Eugene Jarrett Cummings; his children and their spouses, Cynthia Elaine Cummings (Mary Hunsche), James Cornelius Cummings III (Karlotta Cummings), Cecilia Eileen Cummings (Stephen Glynn), Ronald Lee Cummings (Lisa Bradley) and Claudia Elissa Cummings (Michael Rains); his grandchildren Deraun Cummings Coleman, Sheena Sophia Cummings, Nicole Yvette Cummings, Flannery Amber Cummings-Glynn, Schuyler Brian Cummings-Glynn, Joffrey Price Cummings-Glynn, Nicholas Payton Cummings Rains and Victoria Faith Cummings; and his step-grandchildren Cleveland Brown, David Brown and Sevira Brown. Cummings is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren.
A private burial is being arranged by Indiana Funeral Care and the family is planning a future memorial gathering. Donations may be sent to Indiana Black Expo, 601 N. Shortridge Road, Indianapolis, IN 46219.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James C. Cummings, please visit our flower store.
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