Morgan State University to Host First Public Viewing for the Late Honorable Elijah Cummings, Fulfilling the Congressman's Wish for the Campus to Serve as Venue for all of Baltimore to Pay Their Last Respects
Public Invited to Attend the Day-Long Celebration of Life for the Dedicated Public Servant
In the wake of the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings, Morgan State University will host a day-long celebration of his life and legacy beginning with a public viewing and concluding with a special tribute service taking place on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at the University's Murphy Fine Arts Center. This will be the first opportunity for the constituents to see the late Congressman following the breaking news of his death last week.
Fulfilling a wish shared prior to his passing, Congressman Cummings will lie in repose from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the campus of Morgan as part of an effort to provide the people of Baltimore and other mourners with an opportunity to pay their final respects. Following the public viewing, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. there will be a special Tribute Service held at the same location. During the service, the family and attendees will hear brief remarks from a number of elected officials, religious and community leaders and friends.
In between portions of the service, the Morgan State University Choir will perform three musical selections personally requested by Congressman Cummings's wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings. With a significant public turnout expected, seating will be available on a first-come basis. For those unable to attend or find seating, the celebration will be live-streamed online at https://www.morgan.edu/elijahcummings.
Congressman Cummings has a long connection to Morgan State University. He has served on the University's Board of Regents for 19 years after having been appointed in July 1999 (he missed one year due to other commitments at the time). In his capacity as a Regent, he served as a member of the Board's Academic and Student Affairs Committee and chaired the Audit and Institutional Assessment Committee (Feb. 2014 to June 2019).
In 2006, the University bestowed the congressman with an honorary Doctor of Laws, and during this past spring's 2019 Commencement Ceremony Congressman Cummings delivered the commencement address to the graduating undergraduate class. Morgan is also located in Maryland's 7th Congressional District, which the Congressman has served since his election in 1996.