Ann (Bigham) Sumner

This obituary was lovingly prepared by the family

Ann Elaine Bigham Sumner, 72, passed away early morning, October 19, 2024, with her daughter by her side.

Born September 18, 1952, in Vandalia, Illinois. She was the wife of James Sumner for more than 52 years and the mother of three children, Timothy, Patrick and Kelly.  She resided for the last 22 years in Covington, Georgia, having lived in Georgia for 34 years.

Annie, as she was often known by her friends was a loving and outgoing person who was admired by everyone with whom she came in contact. She worked for Delta Airlines for 25 years until retiring in 2008.

She spent her childhood growing up with her parents and grandparents on a small dairy farm in southern Illinois. She was admired by many in her high school, where she was recognized by her peers in many capacities and served as homecoming queen her senior year. She met her husband to be shortly thereafter. They married in December 1971 and moved to Pennsylvania where she began a career in property management. Fifteen years later, the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky where she began working for Delta Airlines. In 1990, the family moved to Georgia where Ann continued her career with Delta.

She lived life to the fullest and her happiest moments were raising her three children and celebrating their lives while they played high school football and cheerleading.  She traveled around the world with her husband and gained many friends from around the world.

While working for Delta Airlines, she served as facility manager for the Delta Crown Room Clubs in Atlanta, which later became known as the Sky Clubs.  She was admired by not only passengers from around the world, but all those who worked with her in her capacity at Delta. She was one, if not, the only Delta employee to be recognized twice with the coveted “Chairman’s Club Award”, which resulted in her name, being stenciled on the side of two different Delta passenger planes.

She loved to entertain and add a gift of hosting delegations, whether in her home, which she designed, or helping her husband host events around the world.

Ann is survived by her husband, Jim Sumner, of Pensacola Beach FL; a son Timothy James, of Anderson, SC; a son Patrick Ryan Sumner and wife Abigail, of Gulf Breeze, FL; daughter Kelly Ann Lamb and husband Tyler of Dawsonville, GA; her mother, Joyce Mueller, of Vandalia, Il; her granddaughters Ava and Alivia Sumner, also of Anderson, SC; brother in-law Stephen Sumner, of Joliet, Il; sister in-laws Jane Sumner, of Dallas, TX; Cindy Bigham, of Anderson, SC; and Angie Bigham of Simpsonville, SC.

She was preceded in death by her father Harold D. Bigham and wife Margo of Gulf Breeze, Florida, her brothers Scott and Bruce Bigham, also of South Carolina, her grandparents H. M. and Elaine Van Sant, of Vandalia, IL.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Sumner will be held at 1 o’clock Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Chapel J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home with Reverend Gil Gainer officiating.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM prior to the service.  Following the funeral service a reception will be held at Burge Club, 44 Jeff Cook Road, Mansfield, GA 30055.  A graveside service will be held at 1 o’clock Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Fairlawn Cemetery, 716 S 5th St, Vandalia, IL 62471.

In lieu of flowers, donations are accepted in Ann’s name at The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406 or online at https://www.theaftd.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/ .

J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home, 2157 east Street SE, Covington, GA 30014 is in charge of the Georgia arrangements while Miller Funeral Homes, 831 N. Fifth Street, Vandalia, IL 62471 is in charge of the arrangements in Illinois. 

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