Obituary for William Albert Sumner

MR. WILLIAM ALBERT “BILLY” SUMNER, age 77, of Rhine, GA, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, GA.

 Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM Friday, November 6, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Mark Watkins and Rev. William Talley, Jr. officiating, with interment in Cottondale Baptist Church Cemetery.

 Billy was born in Sandersville, GA, on July 25, 1949, to the late Joan Bryan Sumner and Joseph Rouse Sumner, and was the second son born out of four boys. He was of the Christian faith and a graduate of Fort Valley High School. After finishing school, Billy joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country aboard the U.S.S. Garcia. 

On October 17, 1973, he married the love of his life, Ronnie Faye Ford, and they made their home in Eastman, GA. He and Ronnie Faye were blessed with two outstanding children, Shon and Mac. Billy received his civil engineering degree at Middle Georgia College and worked for the State of Georgia as a forestry ranger in the Dodge and Telfair County areas during the 1970s and 1980s. In the mid-1980s, he transferred to the Georgia Department of Transportations to work as an area engineer and retired in the early 2000s after twenty plus years as GDOT engineer. He later served as an engineering consultant for Woods Brothers and fully retired to enjoy the fruits of his labor in 2015. During his career, he received numerous awards and commendations for his outstanding expertise in engineering service. 

Billy was a dedicated husband and a loving father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He enjoyed gunsmithing, hunting, fishing, and enjoyed the great outdoors. He was a true family man and will be missed.

In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Blaine “Chuck” Sumner, and sisters-in-law, Martha Elizabeth Shepherd and Elmon Ree Hooks.

He is survived by his Wife of 53 years – Ronnie Faye Ford Sumner of Rhine; Daughter – Shon Sumner Talley (William, Jr.) of Eastman; Son – Mac Sumner (Brandi) of Jacksonville, GA; Grandchildren – Jantzen Burch (Raliya), Sabian Burch, Athan Burch, Savannah Sumner, Dakota Sumner, and Jackson Sumner; Brothers – Jody Sumner (LeeAnn) of Madison and Marvin Sumner of Warner Robins; Sisters-in-law and Brothers-in-law – Jimmie Ford Barlow, W.C. Ford, Jr. (Gail), Aaron Ford (Kay), all of Eastman; Several nieces and nephews.

 The family may be contacted at the residence of Shon and William Talley, 756 Ag Best Rd., Eastman, GA, and will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 10:00AM-11:00AM Friday, November 6.