Mr. Gordon Sumner

Gordon Sumner, 65, retired Professor of Spanish at Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly, of natural causes, at his home in Montgomery, Alabama, on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Mr. Sumner was born May 21, 1945, in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was employed by U.S. Customs. He grew up in Sylvester, Georgia, Perry, Florida, and Tallahassee, Florida, graduating from Leon High School in Tallahassee, in 1963. Mr. Sumner attended Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, receiving his B.A. (cum laude) in Spanish and French in 1966; his M.A. in 1976, in Spanish and French; and his Ph.D. in 1979, with concentrations in Golden Age and Modern Spanish literature, and a minor in French. While pursuing his education, Mr. Sumner received multiple academic honors, including a NDEA Fellowship for Graduate Study, memberships in Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish Honor Society), Pi Delta Phi (French Honor Society), Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and AATSP Scholarship to Spain, alternate, and also, Fulbright alternate to Spain. During his career as an educator, Mr. Sumner taught students of all ages; from 1967 to 1977, he taught in the Public school systems of California and Florida; while working towards his Ph.D., he worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Florida State; and from 1979 to 1983, he was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish and French at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, and South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. In 1983, Mr. Sumner took a position at Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama, where he remained until retirement, as a Full Professor, in 2007. Mr. Sumner was an avid patron of the Arts, loved people, traveling, and learning; he was a dedicated, lifelong, friend to many, who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his three siblings, Elaine Rimsza of Phoenix, Arizona; Richard Sumner, of Valdosta, Georgia; and Jackie Duvall, of Gulf Breeze,Florida; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, wonderful friends. Mr. Sumner was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Melvina (Alford) Sumner, of Tallahassee,Florida; paternal grandparents, Dr. Gordon S. and Mattie Lou (Chapman) Sumner, of Sylvester, Georgia; maternal grandparents, W.L.H. and Lucy Mell (Overby) Alford, of Worth County, Georgia; and niece, Kerry Blackmon, of Tempe, Arizona. A Celebration of Life memorial will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 3:00 PM, at Banks Funeral Home, 210 N. Main St. , Sylvester, Georgia. A service in Montgomery, Alabama will be held at a later date. The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to a favorite arts or educational organization.

Mr. Gordon Sumner

May 21, 1945 - May 5, 2011