CBC names youth center after Cummings

PRESCOTT – Legacies are those things we leave behind to be remembered for.

Katie Cummings left a legacy of smiles, laughter and compassion. She also left a hole in the community with her passing. However, Cummings won’t be forgotten. Sunday, the youth center at Central Baptist Church was named in her honor.

Paul Byford, youth pastor at CBC, talked to the packed house at the center. He reminded everyone Cummings was diagnosed with cancer in January 2016 and fought hard to overcome the disease. The community rallied behind her and her family, holding several fundraisers to help out and show their support. The fundraisers included a 5K run/walk, t-shirt sales and the sale of bracelets.

However, in November, she lost the battle. She was a student in the Prescott School District and a member of the Curley Cub cheerleaders.

Byford said the family appreciated everything the community did during Cummings’ illness, adding while her passing was a sad time, it was bittersweet because she’s in a better place and is no longer in pain. However, he continued, she is still missed.

The church’s board of directors agreed to name the youth center in her honor as she was a member of CBC and loved the church. Byford said Marc Wake, with Arkansas Sign and Barricade got his company to donate the labor and materials for two signs for the center. One is a large blue sign on the front of the building showing the legend “Katie Cummings Youth Center”. In each corner there is something important to her – such as cheerleading, hunting and fishing. The other sign simply proclaims the building as the “Katie Center”. The main sign is white on blue because blue was her favorite color.

Byford said he’s excited because this will keep her memory alive when people ask about the signs and who she was. “We’re excited to have her legacy to share.”

The family was presented a plaque proclaiming the center’s being named after Cummings.