Joseph Clinton "Clint" Sumner Jr.

1939 - 2022

Mr. Joseph Clinton "Clint" Sumner Jr., J.D., 83, formerly of Rome, Georgia, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at his home in Sylvester, GA.

The graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Sylvester. The Reverend Nick Arbogast will officiate.

Clint, a native of Sylvester, was born at home on August 21, 1939, to his parents, Joseph Clinton Sumner, Sr. and Sara Duffey Sumner, having been delivered by Dr. J. L. Tracy, with his grandfather, Dr. Gordon S. Sumner, standing by to welcome his first grandson.

Clint was a 1957 Sylvester High School graduate who went on to graduate from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in 1961 with a BA degree in Political Science. From there, he was accepted into the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, VA where he received his J.D. degree in 1964.

At a Baptist Student Union gathering in Virginia, where he was playing the piano, Clint met his future wife, Bettie Margaret Wiegel of Fairfax, Virginia. Clint and Bettie were married December 28, 1964. They were married for 58 years.

Clint and Bettie moved to Rome, GA in 1965, where he joined the law firm of Rogers, Magruder and Hoyt. Clint practiced law for 51 years until he retired in 2016. He was the sole remaining partner of the firm Magruder and Sumner, from 1994-2015. Clint became a well known litigator specializing in Insurance defense throughout the Northwest Georgia area and was known by other lawyers as "No Settle Sumner".

Although retired, Clint kept an office in Rome, GA until 2021, still utilizing the services of his former secretary of over 30 years, Gail Williams, of Cedar Bluff, Alabama.

Clint was a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Rome Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of Defense Trial Lawyers. He was previously active in the Masons and Rome Elks Lodge. He was a long time member of the Coosa Valley Country Club and the Atlanta Commerce Club. He was of the Baptist faith.

Clint had been in declining health for the past several years which precipitated his move back to his hometown of Sylvester, GA a year ago to be near his only sibling, Beverly. He enjoyed attending the Sylvester High School Class of 1957 "get togethers" and reconnecting with old classmates.

Survivors include his wife, Bettie Margaret Weigel Sumner of Sylvester; a sister, Beverly Sumner Mitchell of Sylvester; an aunt, Virginia Duffy of Roswell, GA; many first cousins; and special friends, Michelle Farley, Alfreda Slaughter and Angela Jones of Sylvester, GA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or Pruitt Hospice of Cordele, GA

Please sign our online guest registry at www.banksfh.com.

Banks Funeral Home in Sylvester is in charge of arrangements.