Mrs. Jill Faulkner Summers

Jill Faulkner Summers, 74, died April 21, 2008 at her home, Knole Farm, following a severe stroke she suffered in November 2006. She was surrounded in spirit by her family, by Daphne F. Wood of Thomasville, Georgia, her lifelong friend, and by Ruth Gordon of Crozet. Born in Oxford, Mississippi June 24, 1933, she was the daughter of the late William and Estelle Faulkner. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Paul D. Summers, Jr., by her son Paul D. Summers III, by her daughter Catherine F. Summers and by her son A. Burks Summers II and his wife Stewart Elliott. 4 grandchildren, Jordan Summers, Stewart Summers, A. Burks Summers III and Elena Summers also survive. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Alexandra Summers. Jill was fascinated with the interplay of flavors, smells, textures and tastes of food - as she often said she just enjoyed cooking. She considered herself lucky to have all eleven family members for "high days" and holidays. Often as many as 25 family and friends would savor a special meal she had prepared. Next to her family, and reading, Jill's great love and interest were her foxhounds. At the time of her stroke she was the longest-serving active lady Master of Foxhounds in North America. She had a keen eye for hounds and horses and over 40 years developed a truly remarkable line of American and Crossbred hounds. Most mornings she would be at the Farmington Hunt Club kennels for several hours at least - year round. Jill was also an avid and accomplished trout fisherman having been initiated into the sport by her husband in 1955. They often spent several weeks a year together fishing in Pennsylvania, Montana and Canada. She greatly enjoyed the solitude and surroundings of the sport. Her husband and family wish to thank Hospice of the Piedmont and the ladies of Above-N-Beyond (Karen Crawford, Ellen Morris, Kendall Morris, Sheryl Morris, Constance Nowell, Sheila Martin, Katherine Shifflett and Patty Shifflett) who watched over Jill during the difficult time after her stroke and in the truest meaning of the words gave her Tender Loving Care.