On March 16, 2018, “The Queen of our Hearts passed away” said the children of Eva Eileen Chambers Cumiskey. “We rejoice knowing she is reunited with our dad and her beloved husband of 62 years, Charlie, but we will never be the same without her love, wit and beautiful face. She was truly one of a kind.”
Eileen leaves behind her six, heartbroken adult children: Her favorite, Chuck Cumiskey (wife Mary Lynne) of Columbus GA; Jeannie Cumiskey, her favorite, of New Albany OH; her favorite, Celie Powell (husband Dean) of Hickory NC; her favorite, Katie Turner (husband Hooper) of Columbus GA; her favorite, John Cumiskey (wife Leigh) of Gainesville GA; and, her dedicated and favorite, Billy Cumiskey of Columbus GA.
Eileen is also survived by her nine beautiful and accomplished grandchildren, and eight amazing great-grandchildren: Dean Powell (wife Jennifer, children William, Reese and Griffin) of Winston Salem NC; Joe Powell (wife Ashley, children Joe, Sam, Allie, and Hunter) of Charlotte NC; Rudi C. Pierson (husband Justin) of Columbus GA; Frannie P. Benfield (husband Charlie, daughter Libby) of Richmond VA; Lieutenant Charlie Cumiskey, III, USMC, Quantico VA; Ginny Turner of Columbus GA; Hooper Turner, III of Nashville TN; Jack Cumiskey of Athens GA; Tricia Cumiskey of Gainesville GA. She is also survived by her dear sister, Erma Jean Chambers Baker (husband Bill) of LaVale MD and many adoring nieces and nephews on both the Chambers and Cumiskey sides.
Eileen was born July 6, 1932 in Eckhart MD, the ninth child to Anne (Chabot) and Francis D. Chambers. She was raised in Frostburg MD, attended St. Michael School and graduated from Catholic Girls Central in Cumberland MD.
Besides her parents, Eileen was preceded in death by three sisters, Eleanor Lakin, Margaret Gehauf and Louise Sittig, and four brothers, John, Louis, Bill and Donald Chambers.
Following their marriage in 1955, Eileen moved to Norfolk VA with Charlie to begin her life as “First Lady” of all things school and summer camp related. Her roles bolstered the impact “The C’s” had on many students and campers in their lifetime. In 1969, Charlie and Eileen moved their family of eight to Martinsville VA, and then in 1980 to Columbus GA. During her tenure as supporting wife, she is remembered most fondly for starting the wildly popular Saturday night Cotillion to teach Norfolk Academy students how to dance. She was always the life of the party and an amazing hostess. She could bring down the house with her humor, story telling (especially on dad!) and her witty one liners, or “Eileen-isms”, as Charlie called them. She had a gift that made everyone feel immediately comfortable and happy to be around her.
Eileen was also a woman ahead of her time. In addition to raising six kids (“always three in diapers and three in college” she would eventually muse) and being “First Lady”, she had a tremendous career in real estate; first in Martinsville VA with Rives S. Brown, where she was a million dollar achiever - despite 17% interest rates - and then as an associate at the Jordan Company in Columbus GA. Plus, she could knock out three sets of tennis before the sun went down! She helped to create and organize the successful Country Fair fund raising events at both Carlisle School in Martinsville VA and Brookstone School in Columbus GA. At Camp Carysbrook, in Riner VA, her role was truly COO, controlling all things 100 homesick campers needed. She was instrumental in the success of the camp The C’s directed. Eileen served as a volunteer for the Heart Association and the Arthritis Foundation in Columbus which, sadly, were the two issues she struggled with until her passing. She will be loved and missed every hour of every day but we know she and dad are watching over us all and dancing amongst the stars.
The family would like to give a very special thank you to the amazing, dedicated caregivers Mom had in her final months especially our new favorite “sisters” Stephanie Jankiewicz, Alicia Spadaro and Lynn Missildine. We would also like to thank Valerie Durham and Joyce Barron of Columbus Hospice. Her life was made so much better and easier by all of your love and care. We are forever grateful to all of you.
A rosary service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 21, 2018, Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Columbus GA. The family will receive friends at Eileen’s home on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 22nd, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Columbus GA with burial following at Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus GA. We welcome all of our family and friends to visit with us at Mom’s home following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Family Catholic Church, Columbus GA, The Organ Donation Foundation (donatelife.net) in honor of her Rudi, Brookstone School, or your favorite charity.
