John Southall Sumner

John Southall Sumner
Mr. Sumner, 89, died Friday, June 9, 2006 at Carolinas Medical Center after several years of declining health. He was born July 21, 1917, in Ahoskie, North Carolina and grew up in Rocky Mount, NC, son of Kate Southall and John Thomas Sumner. John worked for Lance, Inc. for over 40 years and retired as Assistant Vice President of Sales and board member in 1982.
In 1942, while serving as a first lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps stationed in Trinidad, British West Indies, he met and married Frances Albinia Watts. After the war, they returned to Rocky Mount where he resumed his career with Lance. His family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Atlanta before settling in Charlotte in 1954. They lived on Vernon Drive for over forty years before moving to Aldersgate Retirement Community in 2002.
Mr. Sumner, 'PaPa,' as he was known to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will be remembered for his integrity, quick smile, and hearty laugh. He always had a joke or silly song to share with his grandchildren. He was an avid golfer at Myers Park Country Club where he enjoyed the thrill of a hole-in-one. He and Frances were active members of Myers Park United Methodist Church and the Fellowship Sunday School Class. His involvement in various committees at church and in civic activities instilled in his sons a deep sense of duty and honor. His grandchildren remember summers at Ocean Isle beach, outings to the ice cream shop, time together in his workshop, and many family meals. He collected antique tools which he used to craft beautiful furniture and wood carvings. He and Gran spent many hours in their huge garden and loved to share their bounty with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Elizabeth Watkins, and his wife, Frances, who died in December 2005. He is survived by his sister Anne Carson of Bath, North Carolina; his three sons and their wives whom he deeply loved: Thom and Sarah, John and Mary, of Charlotte, Jim and Melvia of Simpsonville, South Carolina; his nine grandchildren: Hall and Amy Sumner, Katherine and Mike Spinak, Tricia and Bruce Murray, Vince and Amy Sumner, Charles and CC Sumner, Elizabeth Sumner and fiance Justin Chambers, Marie Sumner, Susan Sumner, Jamie and Nate Wisch; and great-grandchildren Mary Claire, Lillian, Jack, Mabry, Ainsley Sumner, and Julia and Brady Spinak.
On Tuesday, June 13, at 11:00 AM at Myers Park United Methodist Church, family and friends will gather for a service of worship and celebration, officiated by Dr. James Howell and the Rev. Bill Roth. A reception and visitation will follow in Jubilee Hall.
The family requests that memorials be made to Myers Park United Methodist Church, PO Box 6161, Charlotte, NC 28207.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Dilworth Chapel, online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.