Elizabeth Cummings
Elizabeth (Liz) Mathews Gilchrist Cummings, 75, of Marietta, departed this life on February 21. 2016 at her home in Marietta. She was born April 5, 1939, to parents Carl K. Gilchrist and Sarah Esther Mathews Gilchrist in Charleston, WV. She is survived by her husband Dr. H. Dean Cummings, to whom she was married for 53 years, her sister Sally Johnson and her husband Wayne Johnson of Charleston, WV; nephews Christopher and Carl Johnson, their wives and three great nephews and a niece and numerous cousins. She will also be missed by her beloved dog, Chloe, a beagle basset. She served as a lecturer in Music at the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music.
Elizabeth was baptized in the Christian faith and was a dedicated Christian and follower of the teachings in the Bible. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Parkersburg and was organist for many years at First Baptist Church in Marietta. She was well-known as an outstanding pianist, accompanist and piano teacher. She will always be remembered by her students for her love of teaching piano. Many of her students won awards and music scholarships to college.
She was a graduate of Charleston High School in 1956. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she earned a BM degree in music and piano performance in 1961. She was awarded the MM degree in piano literature and piano performance from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (NY) in1964. She taught piano at Marietta College from 1965 to 1997 and was also an instructor in music appreciation. She has always maintained a large private class of piano students in her home.
Before coming to Marietta, Liz taught English for two years at Leetonia High School in Leetonia, OH from 1963 to 1965. She was fortunate to have studied piano with a number of fine teachers, these included Robert C. Lawrence at Ohio Wesleyan, Armond Basile at Eastman and Frank Glazer an artist teacher at Eastman. It was through his teaching that Liz was able to trace her piano heritage back to Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827).
While a student at Ohio Wesleyan, Liz was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, a social sorority and Mu Phi Epsilon, an honorary women’s music fraternity. She has appeared as piano soloist with the Charleston (WV) Symphony in 1962, as well as other symphony orchestras. She performed the Mendelssohn piano concerto with the Charleston Youth Orchestra when she was 18. Through the years she was very active as an accompanist and performer in chamber ensembles.
In Marietta Liz was a member of the Junior League of Charleston, The Marietta Music Club, The American Association of University Women and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mrs. Cummings has appeared in numerous recitals, both as a soloist and as duo-pianist with William Buelow, a professor of music at Marietta College.
Liz enjoyed keeping in touch with old friends, many who date back to Ohio Wesleyan days in the 1950’s. She was a generous and giving person, always ready to help when needed. She loved to play the game of Scrabble. Liz will always be remembered as a beautiful and caring Christian woman by all who knew her. Besides her musical ability, she was a loving wife who will always be missed.
Friends may call at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home on Thursday evening (Feb. 25) from 6:00 until 8:00 and at the Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home in Charleston, 1118 Virginia Street East, on Friday from 12:00 until 1:00 with funeral services beginning at 1:00 with Pastor Todd Hill officiating. Burial will be in Charleston. Online condolences may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.