Edward Sumner Obituary

Dr. Edward Donald Sumner MT. PLEASANT - Dr. Edward Donald Sumner, 88, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Billie Wallace Sumner, passed away Friday, March 7, 2014. His Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 10, 2014 in Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 302 Hibben Street, at 2:00 p.m. Burial services will be private with military honors. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL. Ed was born March 21, 1925 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, son of James D. Sumner and Frances Grace Harris Sumner. He was a WWII Navy veteran and served with the 4th Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) on Guam in the Pacific. Following naval service, he graduated from Wofford College, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy from the Medical University of South Carolina, and obtained his master's and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Sumner was a member of numerous professional and medical organizations. He taught at the University of Georgia, where he was instrumental in founding the extern-intern program for pharmacy students that is now used nationwide. Dr. Sumner was a professor of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina for 25 years. He authored many books and articles and had a special expertise in geriatric pharmacy. Dr. Sumner's many interests included carpentry, photography, and framing Billie's paintings. He was most proud of renovating the 1940's Folly Beach cottage where good times were enjoyed with family and friends. Dr. Sumner, a brilliant professor, beloved husband, loving father and great grandfather is cherished and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife Billie of 66 years; his son, E. Donald Sumner Jr. (Georgiana) of Athens, GA; his daughter, Melissa Sumner Kersey of Mount Pleasant, SC; five grandchildren: Rev. Lissa Sumner Long (Grahame), Ashley Sumner Heslop (Clay), Bryan Joseph Kersey, Sarah Grace Kersey, and Justin Edward Kersey; and four great-grandchildren: Sydney Heslop, Brenna Heslop, Macie Long, and Summer Long. He was preceded in death by his brother, James D. Sumner, Jr., and sisters, Erline Sumner and Mary Sumner DuPuis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. Edward D. Sumner Scholarship Fund, C/O College of Pharmacy, MUSC, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425 and/or to Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 302 Hibben Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston