Karen Logan Cummins, 59, of Oakland, died Sunday, January 22, 2017, at her home with her loving husband by her side.
She was born September 8, 1957, in Indianola and was the daughter of Raymond and Ileana Hughes Logan. Karen spent her childhood in Inverness, where she lived until graduating from college. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Delta State University and an associate degree in business from Mississippi Delta Community College.
Karen served as a vice-president for Atmos Energy since 2012. She was responsible for operations in the Northern Region which includes the Delta region, the Southaven District and the Columbus and Tupelo areas. She began her career with Atmos as a local office clerk in 1979 in Greenville and progressed through administrative, marketing, and operations teams before assuming her current duties.
After moving to DeSoto County in 1997, she became actively involved in the community. Karen is a past chairman of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council and currently served on the board and volunteers with the organization on both the governmental relations and industrial relations committees. She also served on the Community Advisory Board for Baptist Memorial Hospital and was a member of DeSoto County Business Women. She was a March of Dimes volunteer. She was a past board member of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce, the Southaven Main Street Association and the North Mississippi Homebuilders Association, the Greenville Homebuilders Association, Washington County Hospitality Association, and the Mississippi Restaurant Association and was a committee volunteer for the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce. She volunteered with the House of Grace domestic violence shelter in DeSoto County and the Jesse Brent Memorial Boat Racing association in Greenville to benefit the Mississippi Firefighters Burn Unit. She was also a life member of the Clark Lyon VFW Auxiliary in Indianola.
In May 2012, Governor Phil Bryant appointed Karen to the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning Board to represent the Third (Northern) Supreme Court District for a term to expire May 7, 2021.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents and her stepson, Brad Cummins.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 30 years, Billy Cummins of Oakland; brother, Raymond M. Logan of Augusta, Georgia; sister, Sharon Logan Wade of Inverness; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 10 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Inverness United Methodist Church, 805 Fifth Street, Inverness, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Mound Cemetery, South First Street, Rolling Fork, Mississippi.
Burton Funeral Home of Indianola is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Karen Cummins Scholarship at Delta State University. Checks should be made payable to Delta State Foundation, with the notation 'Karen Cummins Scholarship', and mailed to Delta State Foundation, DSU Box 3141, Cleveland, MS 38733. Donations may be made on-line at deltastategiving.org
Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.burtonfuneralhome.net.
