Special Moments (cont’d) On one occasion I had to visit Fort Devens to take a basketball officials test. So I convinced the driver to drop by Ezra's Company office. You could hear a pin drop, the office staff were crystal clean and I was wearing unclean fatigue pants--a big mistake. Chopper called the Military Police to have me arrested because my uniform was not pressed and my shoes were not spit shine. I immediately jumped in the car and left his post. When he came into Boston that night I asked him why did he do that to me, and he told me not to ever come into his office dressed like a bum. He was like General Patton on Duty. I rented an apartment in Roxboro, Mass. and Chopper use to come by all the time until we had too much activity going on with some of my friends. When Chopper use to come home from overseas he would always come and get me to play him a one on one basketball game at 6:AM and my father would tell him to get me up in the morning. We would go to Kelly Miller Recreation Center. Chopper was a dynamic person and always made his own decisions. I learned a lot from my dear friend, and one thing that I remember was to sing your own song and listen to others, but you have to do things your way. He was a true, dear friend and will be missed. I can hear Chopper singing in his own way, “I Did It My Way" . .
“I’ve lived that’s full; I've laughed and cried; I've had my fill, my share of losing And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing To think I did all that and may I say, not in a shy way Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels The record shows I took the blows and did it my way; Yes, it was my way.”
A Clarion Call On May 7, 2016 I received a call that “Chopper” had completed his journey on these mundane shores and transitioned to a place beyond the veil. Immediately I reflected on his life and the family members who I know and love. I went quickly to my memory bank and brought out those things about “Chopper” that I want to cherish for the rest of my life. I also paused to give thanks to God that I had the opp ortunity to know “Chopper”, his family and the achievements he made while on earth. I remember a scripture that “Chopper” remembered that his former pastor quoted, John 9:4: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work .” Well, my dear friend, the night has come and you can res t from your labor. Farewell Colonel Ezra C. Cummings, Jr., farewell “Chopper”. I hope to meet you somewhere on the other side, and I pray that I will have enough money to pay the tips along that journey. Sharon, the scriptures read in Psalms 30:5: “…weep ing may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Your love for your father will always rest in a special place in your heart, and it will cause you to move to a place where your memories of Dad will bring great joy where there is lingering pain. May God continue to comfort you on your life’s journey. Earl “Tilly” Tildon
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