Harold Van Cummings Sr.

Visitation is 4:00-7:00pm Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral services are 2:00pm Friday, April 20, 2012 in the funeral home chapel with interment in Lakewood Memorial Park.

Harold was born March 24, 1923 in Belzoni, Mississippi, a son of the late Van W. Cummings and Alice Young Cummings. In 1939 he moved to Orleans, Indiana, where he graduated from the Orleans High School and met his future wife, Mary Jayne Smith.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943, where he served with the 186th Medical Battalion in WWII. His duties included supporting Omaha Beach during the invasion. He later served with the 4th Inf. Div. G-3 Section and V Corp Engineers. After the conflict was over in Germany, he attended Berritz University in Berritz.

Harold also served with the Pacific Stars and Stripes, the armed forces newspaper in Japan while his family lived in Guam. While stationed at Governor's Island, New York, he served at the First Army headquarters where he was editor of the First Army newspaper. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1983 after 20 years of service.

Following his military career, Harold then served as State Safety Director for Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation until his retirement in 1988. His accomplishments during his tenure at Farm Bureau included establishment of the use and recognition of the Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem and passage of the Mississippi seat belt law. He also initiated the Farm Bureau Youth Safety Seminar to instruct Farm Bureau members' high school age children in safety programs.

Harold was a member of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Safety Council, National Safety Council where he served on the agriculture committee and National Institute of Farm Safety. Later he organized the Farm Bureau Retirees Association which now includes over 200 members.

Mayor Dale Danks appointed Harold as President of the Mississippi Golden Gloves. He directed the national Golden Gloves competition which was held in Jackson for 5 years.

Harold was also instrumental in the construction of the Hinds County War Memorial in Jackson, which honors all Hinds County military personnel killed in the different conflicts.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Mary Jayne Cummings; his daughter, Judy Bardin; sons, Jimmy and Tommy Cummings; 5 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Harold Van "Butch" Cummings Jr., who was killed in the line of duty during the Vietnam War.