Florence Inez Cummins, born February 15, 1902 in Reevesville, Illinois, was surrounded by Methodists and spent a great part of her life involved with church functions. Because her family was involved in the Masonic Lodge, this also played a big part in her life.

The move to Michigan's drier climate when she was 15 was not an especially prosperous time for her family. They moved again for a short time to Owensboro, Kentucky and when she was 18 to Danville, Illinois. With these moves Florence's education was disrupted and she only went through the fourth grade, but was always an avid reader.