Joseph Rouss Sumner, Sr.

Joseph Rouss Sumner, Sr., 95, of Dublin, died Wednesday, January 9, following a brief illness.  A funeral service will be held at 3:00p.m., Friday, January 11, at Siloam Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.  Visitation is one hour prior to the funeral service.

A native of Wheeler County, Mr. Sumner was the son of the late Joseph Haygood Sumner and the late Lillie Lee Hood Sumner, and was married to the late Lorene Knowles Sumner.  A supervisor and area manager with Southern Bell, he was a past director of the Dublin Salvation Army and worked with the Red Cross.  After serving in Patton’s 3rd Army, 16th Armored Division, Mr. Sumner, a Bronze Star recipient, joined, and later retired from, the National Guard.  He was a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of the American Legion and Kiwanis Club.  He was a generous man who showed kindness to everyone.  Mr. Sumner was a member and deacon of Siloam Baptist Church and was preceded in death by a son, Charles Blaine “Chuck” Sumner, and sisters, Frances Marshall and Virginia Barlow.

Survivors include his sons, Joseph R. (Leeanne) Sumner of McDonough, William (Ronnie Faye) Sumner of Eastman and Marvin Sumner of Byron; grandchildren, Charles (Monika) Sumner, Joanna (Jason) Whitlow, Bill (Katie) Sumner, Mac (Brandi) Sumner and Shon (William) Talley; great-grandchildren, Clay Sumner, Charlie Sumner, Cooper Sumner, Jack Whitlow, Eli Whitlow, Sonia Sumner, Savannah Sumner, Dakota Sumner, Jackson Sumner, Jantzen Burch, Sabian Burch and Athan Burch.  Several nieces and nephews also survive.