Ronnie Joe Sumner, age 73, of Cook County passed away Tuesday morning, July 7, 2020 at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta. Mr. Sumner was born on October 20, 1946 in Cook County to the late Cranford Lenton Sumner and Johnie Hancock Sumner.
Born into the life of a farmer, he was a seventh-generation farmer and loved working the land and growing row crops with his father and brother. He plowed and toiled the earth growing row crops, tomato plants, produce and sod. He seemed to master each before transitioning to the next challenge. At seventy-three years old, he continued to work fourteen-hour days and especially enjoyed raising cattle. He had great vision to see how to turn the ordinary into extraordinary. He enjoyed developing lakes, turning marginal land into productive land and renovating and building several homes. As one of the last producers for Heinz Tomato, he shipped plants all over the country decades ago. Through the years, he enjoyed meeting the demands of farming and shipping deadlines, even bringing stadium lights into the fields to cut and load produce during all hours of the day and night.
Mr. Sumner served as a Cook County Commissioner from 2011-2014. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tifton and attended First Baptist Church of Ty Ty. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He traveled abroad, but rarely, because he was fully devoted to tending the land he considered to be a true blessing from God. Mr. Sumner was witty and passionate with a big personality. He loved his family and his farming community.
Mr. Sumner was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Kay Thornhill Sumner, and he married Dorotheanna Sigmund Sumner on November 6, 2010.
He is survived by his wife, Dorotheanna; a son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Susan Sumner of Valdosta; a daughter and son-in-law, Celeste and Mike Beaumont of Tifton; step-sons, Trey (Deanne) Sigmund of Tifton, Stephen Sigmund of Atlanta; grandchildren, Savannah Sumner, Kice Sumner, Kay Bailey Robinson, Briggs Beaumont, John Michael Beaumont, Arthur Sigmund and Annie Sigmund. Mr. Sumner is also survived by his siblings, Ray Gene (Laverne) Sumner and Connie (Guy) Daughtrey; and many beloved nephews, nieces and cousins.
Family graveside services will be held on Friday July 10, 2020 at Oakridge Cemetery with the Reverend Rodney Owens officiating.
Honorary pallbearers include Ismael Bautista, Ismael Bautista, Jr., Chase Daughtrey, Johnny Eaton, Charles Goodman, Chris Goodman, Morris Henry, Hayward Hester, Chad Sumner, David Terry, Thomas Sumner, Everett Rowan, and America’s President Donald J. Trump.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Community Christian Academy CCA - re: mission trip (1202 N Hutchinson Avenue, Adel, GA 31620) and Cook County FFA (9900 GA Hwy 37 Adel, GA 31620).