Dr. Buhl Cummings

Dr. Buhl Cummings, Co-Founder with his wife, Dr. Lois Cummings, of Athens Christian School, went home to be with the Lord on September 15, 2021, at the age of 93. Dr. Cummings was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Cummings of Darlington, Pennsylvania, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Cummings of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and older sister, Mary Elizabeth Whittemore. Dr. Cummings is survived by his children Tim, Susan, and Steve, all who serve at Athens Christian School, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren; and two younger brothers, Malcolm Cummings of Mocksville, NC, and Bradley Cummings, of Montgomery, AL

Buhl Cummings was born on December, 26, 1927, in Pittsburgh, PA. After serving in the US Navy in WW2, Buhl married Lois Tyson (04/18/1931) of Darlington, PA. The couple met at Bob Jones University where they both felt God's calling upon their lives. After marrying in 1955, they began an adventurous lifetime of Christian service together that spanned 60 years. The Cummings' were called to post-war Seoul, South Korea, to serve as short term missionaries at the Korean Bible College under the TEAM mission board.

In 1958, God led the Cummings' to Athens, Georgia, where they opened the Athens Bible Book Store to serve local churches. About this same time, the Cummings' were approached by a group of local businessmen with the burden of ministering to a downtown housing project, and a home on Waddell Street was purchased and served as the Athens Bible Mission where Buhl pastored and Lois began the children's ministries. Shortly thereafter, the Cummings' began a Saturday evening youth ministry for NE GA teens called the Christian Youth Crusade, started with the help of Christian couples who shared the calling. In 1960, Buhl and Lois began hosting a live 30-minute Sunday morning radio broadcast, entitled, "Chapel Time." The Cummings' started their family, Tim (57) Susan (58) and Steve ('63). The Lord used all of this to prepare the couple for the greatest adventure yet to come - the founding of Athens Christian School.

In 1962, when the U.S. Supreme Court removed prayer and Bible reading from public schools, local Christians began seeking an educational alternative for their children. With their backgrounds in education, the Cummings' again felt God's call and responded in faith by starting NE Georgia's first private, Christian school. Confirmation for this leap of faith came when an aged widow, Mrs. H.G. Logan, sacrificially gave the couple a $100.00 check, explaining that she too, had been praying for years for such a school. On Easter Sunday 1970, Buhl placed an ad in the Athens Banner Herald announcing this new venture with the motto, "A Quality Education in a Christian Atmosphere." Athens Christian School opened its doors that fall, with 13 faculty and 125 students in grades 1-8, all housed in the Hunnicutt House, a large antebellum home on Milledge Avenue. The next year the school doubled its enrollment adding two more grades. This fledgling endeavor took flight and adopted as its mascot quite appropriately, the Golden Eagle. In 1972, God moved on a local dairy farmer and former Clarke County school board member, to sell 36 acres of pasture on Hwy 29, which became the campus of Athens Christian School. Truly a miracle of God!

In year two, ACS started its athletic program with Dr. Buhl coaching many of the girls' teams. He was blessed with great athletes and success, and in 2003, was inducted into the Athens Athletic Hall of Fame for his exceptional record as a coach with over 1,000 wins in girls' volleyball, basketball, softball, and track. In October, 1973, the academic center housing classrooms, offices, library, cafeteria, and gymnatorium was completed. Other additions include Bicentennial Hall (76), for Chapel services; Sports and Music Complex (89); Preschool/Kindergarten facility (95);and a high school classroom building ('04). In 2014, Founders Hall was dedicated which overlooks football and baseball stadiums, as well as the track, cross country, softball, soccer, and tennis facilities. Athens Christian School resides on 84 acres as a testimony to God's wondrous blessings and the vision, work, determination, and unparalleled faith of Founders, Drs. Buhl and Lois Cummings; living proof of the school verse chosen from Psalm 126:3 "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."

Visitation will be held in Founders Hall on the Athens Christian School campus on Sunday, September 19, 6:00-8:00 PM, and the funeral service will be held at 11:00 on Monday, September 20 with close friend, Jeff Appling, presiding. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Cummings' honor to Athens Christian School Founders Hall.

Lord and Stephens, EAST is in charge of arrangements.