Lena B Cummings

Lena Belle “Lena B” Abbington Anthony Cummings, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, made her transition from this life on September 6, 2025, at her home in Columbus, OH, surrounded by love. She was born on May 25, 1930, in Gary, W.Va. to the late William J and Selena B. Wright Abbington.

Lena grew up in Gary, W.VA., where she attended Gary Elementary and Gary District High School and would earn her high school degree from Central High School in Columbus, OH. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Apostolic Temple in Gary W.Va. where she was baptized along side her beloved brother “Snook”, and his best friend, Joe Lee Anthony.

She was first united in marriage to Joe Lee Anthony, Sr., with whom she shared four children, Joanna, Sharon, Joe Jr., and Mark (Stevie). After their time together, she later married Edward L. Cummings, and together they shared two sons, Lee and Cornelius (Nino). Her children are a living testament to her legacy and to God’s unfailing love.

Lena devoted her life to her family and community. She was a member of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church where she served in the Nurses Corp and Seasoned Citizens ministries. She began her long and distinguished career at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1954 as an Emergency Room Control Clerk. Known for her tenacity, dedication, and emotional intelligence, she showed compassion to every child who entered what she lovingly called “her” emergency room, making sure that both children and their parents were treated with dignity and respect. After retiring in 1994, Lena returned in 2005 and served as an Information Desk Clerk until 2011, where she once again touched lives by warmly greeting and assisting families and visitors, just as only Lena B could.

In addition to her parents, Lena was preceded in death by her siblings, James, William, Wilbur (Snook), and Alphonso Abbington, Ophelia White, Evelyn Bagley, Aretha Horton, Elizabeth Roberson, Stella Richardson, Gladys Abbington and Jacqueline Abbington. She was also preceded in death by her granddaughter SeRita Anthony Henry, and great great-granddaughter Azalea Anthony.

She leaves to cherish her memory: Her children, Joanna (Vernon) Mason, Sharon (Aaron) Johnson, Joe Anthony, Jr., Mark “Stevie” Anthony, Lee Edwards, and Cornelius “Nino” Cummings of Columbus, OH; one beloved sister, Nancy J. Wade of Philadelphia, PA; a host of grandchildren, great, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. In addition to her children and grandchildren, Lena shared a lasting bond with her daughters-in-law, Cheryl Dean, Vanessa Anthony, and Bernice Cummings, and her son-in-law Charles H. Parker, Sr., all of whom she loved as her own. Her love, faith, and wisdom will live on in each of them.

Funeral services will be held on September 23, 2025, at 11 am at Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, 3161 E. 5th Ave., Columbus, OH, with Pastor Keith A. Troy officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Glen Rest Memorial Estates, 8029 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.

To leave a message of condolence please visit her Guest Book.