ECMOW recipient recalls early days 'East of the Cooper'

With cars zipping along Highway 17, new neighborhoods under construction and businesses opening daily east of the Cooper, it’s tough to imagine a time when Mount Pleasant and Daniel Island were plantations and farms.

But some of East Cooper’s long-time residents can recall those days before Mount Pleasant was the fast-growing city it is today. East Cooper Meals on Wheels recipient Rebecca Cummings, 92, remembers vividly the way things used to be.

Cummings married in 1948, and, in 1954, built the Mount Pleasant home where she still lives today. She and her husband Frank raised two daughters and four sons. She loves talking about the accomplishments of her children – not to mention her 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Cummings is truly the living history of East Cooper and the history she carries with her is becoming more difficult to find. She can tell you about when Wakendaw Lakes neighborhood was Woodlawn Plantation, 26 acres of pecan trees and home to 10,000 hogs.

She remembers when Daniel Island was called Dan’s Island – little more than a hog farm where she and her family worked. Cummings tells of the early growth of the island, as the roads went from dirt, to oyster shells and eventually to pavement. There was only one car on the island, a Model-T, and everyone else used a horse and wagon.

While much has changed, her family’s connection to Charleston run deep. Her older brother is Daniel Island native Philip Simmons, the famous iron worker responsible for many of the beautiful gates you see in downtown Charleston. His work is even on display at the Smithsonian Institution. She and Simmons were half-siblings, “but we were always together,” Cummings said.

She says Simmons was “born with that talent.” His uncle taught him iron working, and he immediately picked it up. Simmons lived on Daniel Island, as did Cummings starting at the age of 11 or 12. She recalls Simmons taking the ferry from the farm on Daniel Island to go to school downtown.

When Simmons passed away in 2009, Cummings was invited to say a few words at his funeral. Walk into Cummings’ home and one of the first things you see is the program from Simmons’ funeral framed and hung next to photos of her children and grandchildren. Cummings beams with pride when she speaks of her brother and everything he accomplished in his lifetime.

Roughly three years ago Cummings’ husband, Fred, suffered from dementia. “That’s how I got Meals on Wheels for him,” she said. Fred has since passed away, and Cummings now lives alone – although her son or grandchildren regularly stop by for a visit.

Cummings has been an East Cooper Meals on Wheels recipient for the past 16 years and has enjoyed getting to know the volunteers. Recently, though, leg pain has kept her from greeting some of the volunteers. “I can’t do too much walking. The pain comes from my spine and I’m too old to have surgery,” Cummings explained.

Before Cummings’ pain became too bad, she enjoyed visiting local nursing homes, hospitals and church members. She would say a prayer for them and do whatever she could to make their lives a little easier. She truly understands the mission of East Cooper Meals on Wheels because she has lived that mission in her own way.

“That was a blessing to me, to see how you can help older people,” Cummings said.

East Cooper Meals on Wheels serves anyone who is homebound and cannot prepare a meal, regardless of age or income. The organization’s service area includes Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Cainhoy and Wando. To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit www.ecmow.org.