Juanita (Bingham) Rummans

Nita was born to missionary parents Buell Elden and Lois Crouse Bingham in Grand Cayman. The second of four children, she had fond memories of her early childhood on the island and spoke frequently of the many places she lived and the experiences she had as a missionary’s and minister’s child.

Nita graduated from Massey Hill High School, and then earned a BA in education from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. She returned to school and graduated from East Carolina University in 1995 with a Masters in Family Counseling.

After Nita graduated from Asbury, she taught English and Speech in high school. She was one of the 1st women Driver’s Ed teachers in North Carolina. She took time off from her career to raise four wonderful children while traveling the world as an Army wife and then later returned with her family to Fayetteville and served as Assistant to the Minister at Haymount United Methodist Church. Most recently, she served as a family counselor at Fayetteville Family Life Center for 20 years until retirement.

God blessed Nita with many talents, which she shared with her community and her church throughout her life. In high school, she led and accompanied the chorus. As an Army wife, she was president of the Fort Bragg Officers’ Wives Club. She was President of the Medical Auxiliary and President of Fayetteville Beautiful, fighting for green spaces within the city.

At Haymount UMC, Nita impacted the spiritual life of the church as she led Bible Studies, taught the Singles Sunday School Class and lead the Upper Room Covenant Prayer Group. She sang alto in the choir for decades, served as President of Methodist Women, and served on numerous committees in the church. She was the first woman trustee of Haymount UMC. She chaired committees to select and purchase Haymount’s pipe organ for the sanctuary, to hire a choir director (Tony Argo), and to raise money to build the New Life Center. Her legacy at Haymount will long be felt.

Nita loved life and loved to travel, whether camping across Europe with her young family when stationed in Germany, or cruising around South America with her husband Al. She loved the water – give her a sandy beach, a cottage at Buffalo Lake, or a water aerobics class at an outdoor pool – she loved to enjoy the water and bask in the sun. She served as a model of hospitality, giving a bridal or baby shower, hosting house guests, offering a Bible study in her home, inviting a new family or group of singles from Sunday School to dinner at her house after church, bringing her wonderful egg custard to a sick friend, or bringing her special ambrosia to a family get-together. She cared for people, she showed it, and our community is a better place because of her love for it.

Nita was preceded in death by her parents, Buell and Lois Bingham; her older sister, Rebecca Lois Bingham Carnes; her former husband, William Carey Miller, Jr.; her husband, Albert E. Rummans; and her eldest son, William Carey Miller III.

Nita is survived by her brother, William Louis Bingham; her sister, Priscilla Sue Bingham Durkin; her children, Michael Bingham Miller (Vernell), Jennifer Miller Nicholas (Theodore), and Jonathan Andrew Miller (Jerry), and daughter-in-law, Phyllis Cawthorne Miller; stepchildren, Teresa Rummans (Carl Reading) and Albert “Tony” Rummans (Susan); six grandchildren: William Christopher Miller (Leigh), Sarah Alexis Miller Brown (Stephen), Andrew Hayden Miller, Cody Bingham Miller (Brenna), Amanda Katherine Nicholas West (Jacob), and Michael David Nicholas (Brittany); 4 step-grandchildren: Stephanie Reading (Ryan Heilman), John Reading (Brittany), Scott Rummans (Carrie), Michael Rummans (Taylor) ; 5 great-grandchildren (two on the way): Virginia Morgan Miller, Charlotte Dixon Miller, Micah West, David William Nicholas and Aiden Michael Nicholas; and 6 step-great-grandchildren: Addison Heilman, Mason Heilman, Marcella Reading, James Rummans, Alex Rummans, and McKenna Rummans.

A memorial service will be held April 20, 2024, 1:00 pm, at Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Fort Bragg Rd., Fayetteville, NC. The service will be officiated by Rev. Allen Bingham with a reception to follow at Haymount UMC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Haymount United Methodist Church for either the Tony and Karen Argo Endowment Fund for Music and Children or the Haymount UMC Columbarium Fund.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, NC 28301.

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