W.E. “Gene” Sumner, Sr., 46, of Irwin County, died Tuesday, July 17 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, July 20, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with Rev. Earl Perry and Rev. Huey Nichols officiating. Interment will follow in Irwinville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 until 9 Thursday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Sumner was born February 21, 1961, in Ben Hill County, to the late Thomas Ray and Jackie Ash Sumner. He lived in the community all of his life and was supervisor over the welding shop at Diamond Cargo. Mr. Sumner attended Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ben Hill County. He was a member of ABATE of Georgia and the Irwin County Saddle Club.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Sheffield Sumner of Irwin County; daughter, Michelle Jones of Irwin County; sons, Walter Eugene Sumner, Jr. and Sammy Sumner, both of Irwin County; grandchildren, Raye Ann Jones, Dillon Sumner and Ashton Sumner; brothers: Thomas Ray Sumner, Jr., of Fitzgerald and Jack Sumner of Douglas; several nieces and nephews.