HAMPTON — The state is mourning the loss of state Rep. Robert D. “Renny” Cushing, a self-described “aging revolutionary” and social justice crusader who died after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 69.
He leaves his wife, Kristie Conrad, and their three daughters.
kAm{2DE (65?6D52J[ 96 2??@F?465 96 H2D DE6AA:?8 2D:56 @? 2 >65:42= =62G6 @7 23D6?46 7C@> 9:D =6256CD9:A C@=6 2D w@FD6 s6>@4C2E:4 {6256C 2?5 DE2E6 #6A] s2G:5 r@E6 @7 }2D9F2 H2D ?2>65 E@ E96 24E:?8 A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 6:89E9 E6C> 2D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D[ rFD9:?8 3682? 9:D A@=:E:42= 24E:@?D 2D 2 >6>36C @7 E96 r=2>D96== p==:2?46 H9:49 @AA@D65 E96 $623C@@< }F4=62C !@H6C !=2?E :? E96 `hf_D]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D 2 4CFD256C 7@C >2?J 9F>2? C:89ED 42FD6D @G6C E9@D6 J62CD[ 2?5 A2CE:4F=2C=J D@ @? :DDF6D C6=2E65 E@ E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ[ 56DA:E6 E96 724E[ 9:D 72E96C H2D >FC56C65]k^Am
kAmw6 96=A65 E96 677@CE E@ 86E E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ 23@=:D965 :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 5FC:?8 E96 a_`h\a_ =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?[ =625:?8 2 DF446DD7F= 677@CE E@ @G6CC:56 E96 G6E@ @7 v@G] $F?F?F]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E9:D A2DE =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?[ 2D rFD9:?8 H2D 32EE=:?8 42?46C[ 96 7@F89E #6AF3=:42? =6256CD9:A @? C6>@E6 >66E:?8D 2?5 G@E:?8 2C8F:?8 w@FD6 $A62<6C $96C>2? !24<2C5[ #\{@?5@?56CCJ[ H2D G:@=2E:?8 E96 p>6C:42?D H:E9 s:D23:=:E:6D p4E 3J C67FD:?8 E@ AC@G:56 244@>>@52E:@?D 7@C ag =2H>2<6CD H:E9 962=E9 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAm%96 42D6 :D DE:== :? E96 4@FCED]k^Am
kAm~? 9:D %H:EE6C 244@F?E[ rFD9:?8 42==65 9:>D6=7 2 “725:?8 C@>2?E:4[ 2? 28:?8 C6G@=FE:@?2CJ[” 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ C642== 9:D =6256CD9:A @G6C E96 J62CD 925 ?@E9:?8 3FE AC2:D6 7@C 9:>[ >2?J @7 H9@> H6C6 A2DE 2?5 AC6D6?E =2H>2<6CD]k^Am
kAmy2J $FC5F<@HD<: HC@E6 @? %H:EE6C 2D H6== E@ 3:5 E92E rFD9:?8 “C6DE :? A6246” 2?5 42==65 9:> 2 7:89E6C 7@C D@4:2= ;FDE:46 E@ E96 6?5] “w6 H:== 36 D@C6=J >:DD65]”k^Am
kAmqFCE r@96? 42==65 9:> “@?6 @7 E96 8C62E6DE 9F>2?D x’G6 6G6C <?@H?]” w6 D2:5 rFD9:?8 H2D 2E E96 G2?8F2C5 @7 D@ >2?J >@G6>6?ED 7@C ;FDE:46] $>2CE[ =@G:?8[ 5C:G6? 3J 2? F?C6=6?E:?8 :?D:DE6?46 @? ;FDE:46 :? D@ >2?J 2C62D] }6H w2>AD9:C6’D 9:DE@CJ 92D 492?865 E92?<D E@ >J 7C:6?5] }@H H6 92G6 E@ <66A :E 8@:?8]”k^Am
kAm$6?2E6 !C6D:56?E r9F4< |@CD6 :DDF65 E96 7@==@H:?8 DE2E6>6?E E@52Jik^Am
kAm“x H2?E E@ D6?5 >J 566A6DE 4@?5@=6?46D E@ #6??J’D 72>:=J] w6 H2D 2 E:C6=6DD 2?5 A2DD:@?2E6 25G@42E6 7@C }6H w2>AD9:C6] w:D D6CG:46 E@ E96 v6?6C2= r@FCE >256 2 C62= 5:776C6?46 2?5 96 H:== 36 8C62E=J >:DD65] $FD2? 2?5 x 2C6 <66A:?8 9:D 72>:=J :? @FC E9@F89ED 2?5 AC2J6CD]”k^Am
kAmpC?:6 pC?6D6? HC@E6 @? %H:EE6C E92E rFD9:?8 “H2D >J 7C:6?5[ >J A@=:E:42= D@F= >2E6[ >J 4@?7:52?E … E96 H@C=5 92D =@DE 2 >2? H9@ <?6H E96 H2J 2?5 @776C65 9:D =:76 E@ 96=A FD 7:?5 :E H:E9 9:>] %@ D2J 96 H:== 36 >:DD65 5@6D ?@E 5@ ;FDE:46 E@ @FC =@DD]”k^Am
kAmp4E:?8 s6>@4C2E:4 {6256C #6A] s2G:5 r@E6 Ws\}2D9F2X[ ;@:?65 3J @E96C >6>36CD @7 s6>@4C2E:4 =6256CD9:A @776C65 E96 7@==@H:?8 DE2E6>6?EDik^Am
kAm“%96 w@FD6[ E96 s6>@4C2E:4 r2F4FD 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 E@52J DF776C65 2? :?42=4F=23=6 =@DD H:E9 E96 562E9 @7 w@FD6 s6>@4C2E:4 {6256C #6??J rFD9:?8]k^Am
kAm“#6??J ?6G6C AFE 9:>D6=7 7:CDE 2?5 E92E H2D ?6G6C >@C6 @3G:@FD E92? :? 9:D G2=:2?E 7:89E 282:?DE 42?46C] (96? 2?J@?6 6=D6 H@F=5 92G6 AFE 2D:56 2== 3FE A6CD@?2= 4@?46C?D[ #6??J ?6G6C C6EC62E65 7C@> 56G@E:@? E@ E96 AC@8C6DD:G6 42FD6D E92E 925 366? 9:D =:763=@@5[ @C 7C@> 9:D D6CG:46 E@ E96 A6@A=6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 E96 :?DE:EFE:@? @7 E96 w@FD6]k^Am
kAm“~?6 @7 #6??J’D 3:886DE 244@>A=:D9>6?ED 2?5 2 ;@J 7@C 4@==628F6D :? E96 w@FD6 E@ H:E?6DD[ H2D 23@=:D9:?8 E96 562E9 A6?2=EJ :? }6H w2>AD9:C6] w:D 3:== wq cdd A2DD65 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D @? E9:D 52J[ |2C49 f :? a_`h] p== H9@ <?@H 9:> <?@H E92E #6??J’D E:>:?8 :D A6CA6EF2==J D6C6?5:A:E@FD]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E E@ 2=D@ 282:? E92?< 9:D H@?56C7F= 72>:=J 7@C D92C:?8 9:> H:E9 FD 7@C 2== E96D6 J62CD] p== >J =@G6 E@ E96>] w6 H@F=5 H2?E >6 E@ >6?E:@? 2=D@ @FC H@?56C7F= DE277[ H9@ =@G6 9:> 2?5 H9@> 96 =@G65]k^Am
kAm“w6 H2D 2 4:E:K6? @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6[ 3FE 2=D@ 2 4:E:K6? @7 E96 (@C=5[ H9@ =@G65 9F>2?:EJ 3@E9 :?5:G:5F2==J 2?5 :? E96 23DEC24E] w6 96=5 ?@ 8CF586D 3FE E@@< ?@ AC:D@?6CD] w6 =:G65 3J E96 :562=D @7 yFDE:46 2?5 |6C4J] w6 42??@E 36 C6A=2465] w6 H2D >J 7C:6?5 367@C6 >J {6256C 2?5 3642>6 72>:=J E@ >6]k^Am
kAmx H:== >:DD 9:> 6G6CJ 52J[” r@E6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp4E:?8 s6AFEJ s6>@4C2E:4 {6256C |2CJ y2?6 (2==?6C Ws\ r@?4@C5X 4@?E:?F6Di “x? E96 564256D x’G6 <?@H? #6??J rFD9:?8[ x 92G6 366? :?DA:C65 3J 9:D :?4C65:3=6 A2DD:@? 7@C AF3=:4 D6CG:46] p ECF6 AF3=:4 D6CG2?E[ 96 565:42E65 9:D 6?E:C6 =:76 E@ E96 36EE6C>6?E @7 @E96CD] w:D DA:C:E H:== =:G6 @? E9C@F89 E96 4@>A2DD:@?2E6 A@=:4J 96 4C27E65 E@ AC@E64E 2== vC2?:E6 $E2E6CD 2?5 E96 F?4@?5:E:@?2= <:?5?6DD 96 :?DE:==65 :? 6249 @?6 @7 FD[ 9:D 7C:6?5D]”k^Am
kAm“}6H w2>AD9:C6 92D =@DE 2 =:76=@?8[ 565:42E65 =6256C 2?5 A2DD:@?2E6 25G@42E6] }@ @?6 42C65 >@C6 566A=J 23@FE @FC DE2E6 2?5 :ED A6@A=6] (6 92G6 =@DE #6??J rFD9:?8 E@@ D@@?[ 3FE 9:D =6824J H:== =:G6 @? :? @FC >:?5D 2?5 :? @FC 962CED[” 25565 #6A] z2C6? t36= Ws\}6H {@?5@?X] w@FD6 s6>@4C2E:4 {6256C !C@ %6>A@C6]k^Am
kAm“#6??J rFD9:?8 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2? 25G@42E6 2?5 2==J 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6 2?5 E96 qx!~r 4@>>F?:EJ] w6 ?6G6C D9:65 2H2J 7C@> 2 7:89E 2?5 H@C<65 E:C6=6DD=J 7@C @FC >@DE GF=?6C23=6 4@>>F?:E:6D] x’> 8C2E67F= E@ 92G6 366? 23=6 E@ DA6?5 D@ >F49 E:>6 H:E9 #6??J 2?5 E92?< 9:D 72>:=J 7@C D92C:?8 DF49 2? 2>2K:?8 D@F= H:E9 E96 =68:D=2EFC6] pD 96 H@F=5 2=H2JD D2J E@ >6[ ‘$:6>A6 !2’=2?E6’ W2=H2JD 7@CH2C5X[” 25565 #6A] |2??J tDA:E:2 Ws\}2D9F2X[ w@FD6 s6>@4C2E:4 u=@@C {6256C]k^Am
kAm#6A] |2C;@C:6 $>:E9 Ws\sFC92>X[ w@FD6 s6>@4C2E:4 !@=:4J {6256C[ D2:5[ “#6??J 56G@E65 9:D =:76 E@ >2<:?8 E96 H@C=5 36EE6C] w6 49@D6 E@ =:89E 2 42?5=6 C2E96C E92? 4FCD6 E96 52C<?6DD] }@H H6 >FDE 36 3C2G6 2?5 7@==@H E92E 7=2>6]”k^Am
kAm“#6??J 25G@42E65 7@C E96 C:89E :DDF6D[ 2?5 7@C ;FDE:46 7@C 2== A6@A=6[ C62=:K:?8 D@ 2DEFE6=J E92E E96 DE24<D H6C6 282:?DE E96 qx!~r 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 =@H\:?4@>6 A6CD@?D[ 2?5 J6E A6CD:DE:?8] x DA62< 7@C 2== @? E96 rC:>:?2= yFDE:46 2?5 !F3=:4 $276EJ r@>>:EE66 H96? x D2J E92E 9:D =@G6 @7 A6@A=6 2?5 56E6C>:?2E:@? 7@C 8@@5 92D CF3365 @77 @? FD @G6C E96 J62CD E92E H6 H6C6 3=6DD65 E@ H@C< H:E9 9:>] (6 2C6 7@C6G6C :?563E65 E@ 9:D 72>:=J 7@C D92C:?8 9:> H:E9 FD] x 766= 3=6DD65 E92E 96 :D 2E A6246 2?5 92D =67E 2? 2>2K:?8 2?5 362FE:7F= =:76’D 9:DE@CJ E92E H6 42? 2== 36 AC@F5 @7[” 4@?4=F565 #6A] {:?52 w2CC:@EE\v2E9C:89E Ws\}2D9F2X[ #2?<:?8 s6>@4C2E @? w@FD6 rC:>:?2= yFDE:46 2?5 !F3=:4 $276EJ r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAmw@FD6 $A62<6C $96C>2? !24<2C5[ #\{@?5@?56CCJ D2:5i “x 2> D2556?65 3J E96 A2DD:?8 @7 {6256C rFD9:?8] w6 H2D 9:89=J C6DA64E65 2>@?8DE 9:D A66CD :? E96 w@FD6 2?5 E9C@F89@FE E96 $E2E6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6] w6 H2D 2 A2DD:@?2E6 2?5 565:42E65 AF3=:4 D6CG2?E – ?6G6C 27C2:5 E@ E2<6 @? 4@?EC@G6CD:2= :DDF6D 7@C E96 D2<6 @7 36EE6C:?8 E9:D 8C62E DE2E6] xE H2D 2? 9@?@C E@ D6CG6 2=@?8D:56 {6256C rFD9:?8[ 2?5 9:D AC6D6?46 H:== 36 8C62E=J >:DD65 3J 2== H9@ 925 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ <?@H 2?5 H@C< H:E9 9:>] ~? 3692=7 @7 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 v6?6C2= r@FCE DE277[ x H@F=5 =:<6 E@ 6IE6?5 >J 566A6DE DJ>A2E9:6D E@ E96 rFD9:?8 72>:=J[ E96:C 7C:6?5D 2?5 =@G65 @?6D 5FC:?8 E9:D 5:77:4F=E E:>6]”k^Am
kAmv@G] $F?F?F :DDF65 E96 7@==@H:?8 ?6HD C6=62D6ik^Am
kAm“#6??J rFD9:?8 D6CG65 9:D 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C 564256D :? E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 w@FD6 2?5 >256 2 =2DE:?8 :>A24E @? E96 :DDF6D 96 42C65 566A=J 23@FE[” D2:5 $F?F?F] “|J E9@F89ED 2C6 H:E9 E96 rFD9:?8 72>:=J 5FC:?8 E9:D F?:>28:?23=6 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm%96 v@G6C?@C’D ~77:46 92D 4@>>F?:42E65 H:E9 E96 492:C>2? @7 E96 w2>AE@? q@2C5 @7 $6=64E>6?[ 2?5 E96 8@G6C?@C 92D 5:C64E65 DE2E6 7=28D :? E96 E@H? @7 w2>AE@? E@ 7=J 2E 92=7\DE277 @? E96 52J @7 :?E6C>6?E]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.