Obama eulogized Cummings, sharing stories of his time with the congressman and his family.
“I remembered I had the pleasure of meeting Elijah’s mother, and she told me she was praying for me every day,” Obama told attendees moments after receiving a standing ovation. “And I knew it was the truth. Sometimes people say they’re praying for you, but you don’t know. They might be praying about you, but you don’t know if they’re praying for you.
“His parents passed on that strength, that grit, but also that kindness and faith to their son. As a boy, his father made him shine his shoes, tie his tie, and they would go to the airport — not to board airplanes but to watch others do it. His father would tell him, ‘I have not flown, I may not fly, but you will fly one day. We can’t afford it right now, but you will fly.”
Cummings would work diligently to graduate from Howard University, become a lawyer, and earn his seat in Congress in 1996.
“His life elevates the things that we tell ourselves about what’s possible in this country,” Obama said. “The possibilities that our best days are not preordained but through our work and dedication and our willingness to open our hearts and love all people.”
Cummings is survived by his wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, and three children.
