Individual Details

Death

NEW ALBANY - Lester Furr Sumners, 79, long-time New Albany lawyer, community leader and much-loved gentleman, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at his home. Born in Blytheville, Ark., to Chester Lamar Sumners and Bessie Furr Sumners, he grew up in Corinth, graduating from high school there in 1945. That same year his family moved to Oxford where he earned a bachelor of arts in English in 1949 and a law degree in 1950 from the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon social fraternity and served as president of the Interfraternity Council. He was a member of the rifle team, lettering in that sport. He played the French horn in the Ole Miss band and was a member of Scabbard and Blade and Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity. In law school he was named associate editor of the Mississippi Law Journal and was inducted into Omicrom Delta Kappa and Phi Delta Phi. He served in the U.S. Army and was an officer in the Army Reserves. He began his legal career with the late T. Leslie Darden in New Albany. He continued practicing law in New Albany for 55 years with the same firm, most recently with his long-time partner, Robert M. Carter, and with Thad J. Mueller in the firm Sumners, Carter and Mueller, P.A. In 1971-72, he served as president of the Mississippi Bar. He served that body in many capacities both before and after his presidency, including as a Commissioner from 1959 to 1963 and 1965 to 1967. He served as Complaints Commissioner in 1963 and 1965. He was president of the Mississippi Bar Foundation in 1979-80, and president of the University of Mississippi Law Alumni Chapter in 1976-77. He was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trail Lawyers and was a Bencher in the American Inns of Court. He was the recipient of the Mississippi Bar Foundation's Professionalism Award in 2001 and the Mississippi Bar's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. For many years he served as attorney for the Union County Board of Supervisors and the Northeast Mississippi Junior College (which he served as a trustee from 1961-1966). He was a long-time director of First National Bank of New Albany. A Sunday school teacher there for many years, he was an active participant in the work of First United Methodist Church of New Albany and a trustee of the church. Beginning in 1954, Les served as Scoutmaster for 22 years to Boy Scout Troop 18 chartered to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in New Albany. Many men active in business and civic affairs in Union County and elsewhere today, including many Eagle Scouts, knew him first as their Scoutmaster. The boys of his Troop marked his 20th year as their leader by noting his role as their "Scoutmaster, tutor and Friend." An Eagle Scout himself in Corinth Troop 22 under Scoutmaster Dr. R.B. Warriner Sr., he continued to serve on the Board of the Yocona Area Council throughout his life, promoting Scouting and Camp Yocona. The Council honored him in 1991 by naming that year's Eagle Scout Class for him. An avid reader, he and his wife, Joyce, had a library built into their home. When not engaged in sailing his last boat, the "Baby Joy V", gardening or fixing something at his work bench, he could generally be found with a book in his hands. For 20 years he served as chairman of the board of the Union County Library and was the first recipient of the State Library Association's Golden Book Award. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in New Albany. Burial will be in the New Albany Cemetery. United Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Joyce Bonner Sumners; one son, Thomas Bonner Sumners and his wife, Diana, of Dunnellon, Fla.; two daughters, Melinda Sumners Ray and her husband, Steve, and Leslie Elizabeth Sumners, all of Jackson; his grandchildren, Stacey and Molly Sumners of Dunnellon, Fla., Leslie Johns and Cameron Ray of Jackson; and one nephew, William Sumners Mayo and his wife, Cherri, of Oxford. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Martha Watson "Watsie" Sumners Mayo and James Sumners. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Union County Bar Association. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Wesley Hall of First United Methodist Church in New Albany. Memorials may be made to Yocona Area Council, B.S.A., 505 Air Park Road, Tupelo, MS 38801 or The University of Mississippi School of Law, P. O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677.