SERVICE:     Thursday, October 31, 2024

Moselle Memorial Baptist Church

11:00 a.m.

INTERMENT:     Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery

VISITATION:     Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Moselle Memorial Baptist Church

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Services will be held at 11:00a.m. Thursday, October 31, 2024, at Moselle Memorial Baptist Church for Rev. John F. Sumner, Jr., age 95, of Moselle. Rev. Sumner passed away on October 25, 2024, at his residence. Bro. Jerry East and Dr. Ronnie Bishop will officiate with the burial to follow in the Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Douglas, Mark Smith, Charles Odom, Mitch Robinson, Ron Swindoll and Kevin Kyzar. Honorary pallbearers will be Ryan Richardson, Rodney Mooney, Max Robertson, Paul Gregg, Larry Robinson and Charles Orman.

John was born on March 24, 1929, in Tarpon Springs, FL to John Floyd and Lily (Evers) Sumner. He is the second child in a family of seven children: two boys and five girls. His parents moved back to their native state of Georgia when he was three years old, where he and his siblings grew up.

On October 3, 1952, he married Bobbie Jennette Cowart of Adel, GA whom he had met in church. To this union were born John Floyd Sumner, III and Jennifer Candace (Sumner) Weaver.

John attended/graduated from Abraham Baldwin in Agricultural College, Norman Park College, (A.A.), Mercer University, William Carey College (B.A.), University of Tel-Aviv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (THM) and completed partial requirements for his doctorate.

He was saved in 1950 in Tampa, FL, and after returning to GA in 1953, he was ordained as a deacon at Brushy Creek Baptist Church, Sparks, GA. He pastored the following churches: Buck Creek Baptist Church, Ellenton, GA 1956-1958; Cecil Baptist Church (interim), Cecil, GA, 1959; Warwick Baptist Church, Warwick, GA, 1959-1962; Arabi Baptist Church, Arabi, GA, 1962-1966 and Fairfield Baptist Church, Moselle, MS, 1966-1976.

John became the Baptist Student Director at Jones County Junior College in 1976 and remained there until his retirement in 1991. He had a passion for mission work and was able to take many students on mission trips during his life of service to God. Through church youth choir trips, BSU student mission and choir trips and his own personal mission trips, John was able to serve God on more than ??? trips. Over ??? students were part of these trips.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jennette; parents, John and Lily Sumner; sisters, Betty Maddox and Peggy North and brother, Winston.

He is survived by his children, John (Janice) Sumner, III of Moselle and Candy (Gates) Weaver of Moselle; grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan) Richardson, Amber (Rodney) Mooney and Morgan Sumner;  great grandchildren, Race Robertson, Aria Mooney, Caroline Mooney, Ruth Richardson, Rose Richardson, Beau Richardson, Caplan Sumner, Quinn Sumner and Conan Sumner and sisters, Carleen Smith, Carolyn Phillips and Barbara Hall.

Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Moselle Memorial Baptist Church.