Gerald Allen Sumner
June 24, 1943 — June 9, 2016
Gerald Allen Sumner, Sr., 72, of Enigma passed away Thursday, June 09, 2016 at Tift Regional Medical Center.
Funeral Services will be held Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. in the chapel at Albritton Funeral Directors with Rev. Ronnie Lawson and Rev. Larry Layfield officiating. Interment will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until 2:30 P.M. before the service.
Evan Goforth, Kenneth Goforth, Paul Webb, Gary Abbott, Kelly Osborne and Joe Kilpatrick will serve as pallbearers.
Mr. Sumner was born in Tift County on June 24, 1943 to the late Dallas Sumner and Juanita Cravey Carr. Mr. Sumner was a Veteran of the United States Navy and he served during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vickers Baptist Church in Enigma. Mr. Sumner owned and operated his own contracting business, Gerald’s Contracting Company, retiring after forty seven years.
As an animal lover all of his life, Mr. Sumner especially loved his dog “Bo”. He was an avid fisherman, loved gardening, frying fish and cooking. Mr. Sumner was a great provider for his family who loved to work and did so until the end. He was a great husband and father.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Sumner was preceded in death by his brother, Melvin Taylor.
Mr. Sumner is survived by his wife, Cheryl Lewis Sumner; his daughter and son-in-law, Angela Marie and Bobby Goforth of Enigma; and two sons, Gerald Allen Sumner, Jr. and his lifelong companion, Patrick M. Lee of Columbus, Ohio, and Jessie Clark Sumner of Enigma; one sister, Loretta Bennett of Hahira; one brother, Dale Sumner of Nashville; two grandchildren, Cherish Osborne and Evan Goforth; and three great grandchildren, Kiley and Kellen Osborne and Layla Goforth.
The family will receive flowers or donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.