Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 5-20-22

This Family Thrives On God, Family, Education
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
These parents of 10 children are beginning to see the fruit of their labor as the children start to graduate from college, and the parents continue their education.
In December of 2019, the Sentinel featured Dr. Rasheda Jamillah Cum- mings and her family as the mother of 10 had recently earned her doctoral degree, working through challenges. Now working on a second Ph.D., (Public Administration, specializing in Economics and Public Policy), Dr. Cum- mings and her husband, Peter A. Cummings, II, a doctoral candidate in Business Administration, are beginning to see the fruit of their labor. Their 3 oldest children are now college graduates.
“My oldest three have ob- tained their college degrees, despite the recent COVID pan- demic and other obstacles that “tried” to stop their college at- tainment, but it didn’t. My family has lived up to the cause of our personal mission, vision, and goal, which is living for God, family, and education,” Dr. Cummings said.
They both teach the foun- dation of knowledge and com- mon sense, and understanding the distinct difference. Their church is New Mount Zion MB Church, with Pastor Larry Roundtree, II.
Lakita graduated from Southeastern University with her Master’s Degree in Educa- tion; Karen graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree at Florida A&M University in Criminal Justice, and Peter
graduated with his Bachelor’s at Florida State University in Information Technology.
In addition to adding grad- uates to the family, the Cum- mings have added 3 grandchildren (age 5, 4, 1). The three graduates said that it was the teaching, love and sup- port of their mother and father that sustained them.
Lakita Karen Cum- mings graduated with her Master’s Degree in Education at Southeastern University on April 29, 2022. She received a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Edu- cation and Communication at the University of South Florida in 2020. Ms. Cummings is the oldest of 10 children and the mother of a 5-year-old daughter named Amellia. Ms. Cummings always had a passion for teaching since the age of 3. She currently works as a teacher for Hillsborough County and continues to thrive through the love she has for her students’ personal and growth development. Ms. Cum- mings’ education goal is to re- ceive a doctorate in Education. Her professional goal is to eventually become a principal in Elementary Ed and later as a dual profession also teach at a University as a Professor, guid- ing foundational principles for future educators.
Karen Jamillah Cum- mings graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Florida A&M Univer- sity in June 2021. Ms. Cum- mings guided her interest in criminal justice due to her grandmother’s (Karen B. Dixon) homicide in 1988. Ms. Cummings is the second oldest of 10 children and the mother of two daughters, Adi- rah (age 4) and Aliyah (age 1). She is currently enrolled in
LAKITA KAREN CUMMINGS ...Graduated with Master’s de- gree from Southeastern Uni- versity on April 29, 2022
KAREN JAMILLAH CUMMINGS ...Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M Uni-
versity in 2021
PETER ALFONSO CUMMINGS, III ...Graduated with Bachelor’s degree from Florida State Uni-
The family together this past April when they attended the grad- uation of LaKita from Southeastern University.
versity in 2021
her Master’s program at Barry University. Ms. Cummings’ goal is to obtain her Juris Doc- torate, working in Criminal Law in hopes to eventually cre- ate a law named after her grandmother, “The Karen’s Law,” which is to help prevent first degree murder convicts from reduced sentences. She is currently working in her field of study for a state government agency.
Peter Alfonso Cum- mings, III is the third oldest of 10 children and stressed the importance of honoring his grandfather’s and father’s name. Mr. Cummings grad- uated with his Bachelor’s de- gree in Computer Science/Information Technol- ogy at Florida State University in December 2021, with high honors, and remained on the Dean’s list throughout his edu- cation as a freshman to a sen- ior. He is currently working in his career in IT for a local gov- ernment agency, while obtain- ing certifications. He is scheduled to enroll in his Mas- ter’s degree for Winter 2022. Mr. Cummings’ motto to keep him motivated is, “get up
and tackle the world, and if you fall, get up again.”
Dr. Cummings dedicates her accomplishments to both of her parents, Albert Dixon and Karen B. Dixon. “My fa- ther passed away in a car acci- dent in June 1978 and my mother was murdered in April 1988.
“The year that my mother was murdered, all I can re- member was the “bad,” seeing her story in the Florida Sen- tinel on the cover page, “Woman Found Behind Bar.” I remember reading the articles in the paper. I remember read- ing other articles in the Tampa Tribune. I remember looking and listening to her story on the news. I remember looking at her “dead picture” of her face on the highway bulletins, ask- ing for help with any feedback from the crime.
“Now, I will talk about all of the “good” that came from the “bad.” I want to inspire other people in our community to be- come motivated and educated, gain their confidence back after facing traumatic experiences in their lives,” Dr. Cummings stated.
In this 6-year-old photo: The Cummings family: from left to right (top): Karen, (20), Peter, III, (18), Lakita (25), and Judith (15). Seated in front, from left to right: Paul (13), John (10), Rasheda-Junia (4), Dr. Cummings, Leah (7), Peter, II (dad/hubby), Joseph (5), and Joannah (9).
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