John Thomas "J. T." Sumner, 84, of Tifton passed away Friday, April 2, 2004, at his home. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 4, 2004, at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton with the Rev. Fred Evers and the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. Mr. Sumner was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Joe Tom Sumner, George Sumner Jr., Jake Sumner, Andy Sumner, Alexander Kemp and Jo McSpadden served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Senior Sunday School Department of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton, Paul Sumner, Stanley Daniel, J. D. Lindsey, Bobby Lindsey, Hugh Chandler, Leonard Copeland, Ralph Rigdon, Dr. Carl Pittman, Buddy Kulbersh, Stan Moore, Guy Blasingame, John McCranie, Larry Danforth, Roy Sumner and Van Phillips.
Born February 7, 1920, in Cook County, Mr. Sumner was the son of the late John William Sumner and Lelia Baker Sumner. He was also preceded in death by five brothers, Floyd Sumner, Grady Sumner, Clarence Sumner, George Sumner and Steve Sumner; and three sisters, Ruby Sumner Danforth, Juanita Sumner Stetz and Cordie Belle Sumner Daniel.
A veteran of World War II, Mr. Sumner served valiantly in the United Stated Marine Corps from 1940 to 1945 and was actively involved in the Pacific Theatre of Operations on Guadalcanal Island, where he was wounded twice and received the Purple Heart for his service while leading his Tank Battalion as the youngest gunnery sergeant in the entire United States Marine Corps.
Mr. Sumner began a successful entrepreneurial career, first as a landowner and farmer of more than 500 acres in Cook County and later as Tifton's largest employed from 1958 until 1971 as president of Sumner Construction Company.
Mr. Sumner had been a dedicated member of Northside Baptist Church in Tifton since 1959, serving on the building committee and as a Sunday School teacher.
Mr. Sumner was actively involved in his community and served as a member of the Tifton-Tift County Charter Committee for Consolidation and on the Tift County Board of Equalization. In addition, he served as president of the Tifton Lions Club for two terms (1970-1971 and 1975-1976); was a member and served as an officer of the Tifton Elks Lodge; was a member and past officer of the South Georgia Senior Golf Association; and was a member and past president (1872-1973) of the Spring Hill Country Club.
Throughout his life, Mr. Sumner exemplified a sincere dedication to his God, his family, his community and his country.
Mr. Sumner is survived by his wife of 58 years, Louise Norman Sumner of Tifton, who he married on November 7, 1945; one daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Alex Kemp of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Daryl and Sherrie Sumner and Dale and Telie Sumner, all of Tifton; five grandchildren and their spouses, Alexander kemp of Macon, Andy Sumner of Charlotte, North Carolina, Blake Sumner of Atlanta, Jake and Hannah Sumner of New Orleans, Louisiana and Tee and Joe McSpadden of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Tift Area, 618 Central Avenue North, Tifton, GA 31794; Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, Ga 31793; of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, GA 31793.