Know Your Neighbor–Robert Cumbie
(Editor’s Note: The following story is about Robert Cumbie, pharmacist at Jasper Memroial Hospital. It is the third installment in a new feature we hope to have weekly, Know Your Neighbor. Please, if you know someone interesting, or you have a story to tell, let us know. Any Jasperite or almost Jasperite can be featured in this space as we are all neighbors in this community. And everyone is interesting in some way.)
Meet Robert Cumbie—husband, father, son, pharmacist, runner, musician, and generous volunteer who is always willing to help.
Robert is vice-chair for the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Monticello Civic Club, having served as president already. He is a member of the Monticello Community Band, where he plays trombone, and is an active member of Eastridge Community Church in Covington.
Robert and his wife, Michelle, have four children—Andrew, 10, Matthew, 7, Mason, 2, and Morgan four months. As if that isn’t enough to keep them busy, they are certified foster parents, who are not currently fostering, but still provide respite care for families who are fostering. For example, last weekend, Robert volunteered Friday and Saturday evenings at the Monticello Civic Club talent show. Friday evening, he had in tow, four little boys—his two oldest and two foster children. They had a great time. He probably had all four again Saturday; I just didn’t see him come in.
For his day job, Robert is the pharmacist at Jasper Memorial Hospital. After finishing high school in Newton County in 1999, he went to college and pharmacy school at the University of Georgia in Athens. Michelle owns and operates Southern Embroidery Works, which is currently located on the Square, but will soon be moving to Venture Court.
While in school, he interned at a pharmacy in Covington, and there he met and fell in love with Michelle. They had gone to school together, but she was a couple years behind him, and they never got together there. But in 2003, she was working at the pharmacy where he interned, and the next thing you know they were married.
Upon graduation from UGA, Robert worked in retail pharmacy until 2014. In 2011, Phil Johnson, the pharmacist at Jasper Memorial invited Robert to help out when needed. So Robert did. When Phil retired in 2014, Robert took the full time position there. He already lived in Jasper County, having bought a house here in 2005.
Although he grew up on Covington, Robert considers Monticello home. His grandparents, Harold and Marian Morgan, welcomed him to their home frequently throughout his childhood. He would visit them at their home in town, and also go out to their pond where he fell in love with fishing. He doesn’t have much time for fishing these days, but it’s on the back burner, he still enjoys it.
Another hobby he really enjoys is running. He has sort of gotten out of the habit lately, what with a two-year-old and an infant…it’s hard to get up early and run. But, he has, and he will. Robert has run three full marathons, 11 half-marathons, two Ragnar relay races (200 mile team relay), a 100-mile team relay race, and a bunch of 10 K and 5K races.
Robert’s parents both live close enough to help with babysitting, and they are both retired, and willing to help. Michelle’s parents are in the process of building a home in Jasper County now, adding another sets of hands to help out with the four children if needed.
I said at the beginning Robert is always willing to help. He hasn’t been on the COC board long, but he is already an officer…because he’s willing. The Civic Club has three major fund raisers a year, and you can count on Robert being in the thick of things, taking on leadership roles, helping out new officers, doing whatever he can to be helpful. All you have to do is ask Robert, and he’s glad to lend a helping hand.
There’s an old saying if you want to get something done, give it to the busiest person you know. Well, Robert, watch out, you may not be busy enough yet.
