Dorothy “Dot” Sumner

Dorothy “Dot” Brand Griffin Sumner, 87, of Norman Park, Georgia, passed away at Legacy Village on Monday, July 7, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with Reverend Andy Cashwell and Reverend Dudley Cook officiating. Interment will follow at Deep Bottom Cemetery. Joe Jernigan, Hal Bennett, Eric Moore, Matt Mobley, Joe Ben Griffin, Buck Moore, and James Mobley will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home.

Born on October 16, 1937, in Lagrange, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Garnie Allen Brand and Oppie Lee Houze Brand. Mrs. Dot was deeply devoted to her faith and actively involved in several churches, including First Baptist Church of Norman Park, Crosland, and Mt. Olive. Over the years, she served in numerous roles during Vacation Bible School, directed the choir, and sang faithfully as a choir member. A gifted musician, she played the piano for many years at First Baptist Church of Norman Park, providing music for the children’s department each Sunday morning. She also played for the Israelite Quartet.

A dedicated educator, Mrs. Dot taught school for more than 30 years. She founded a private kindergarten in the Little Red School House in Norman Park, later taught at Pineland School, and ultimately retired from Norman Park Elementary School at the age of 70. In addition to her work in education and music ministry, she also worked for many years as a cashier at Jernigan’s Restaurant.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Sumner is preceded in death by her husbands, Harold B. Griffin and Gordon M. Sumner; son, Harold Bennett (Ben) Griffin, II; granddaughter, Madalyn Ann Bennett; and sister, Betty Noel.

Mrs. Sumner is survived by her daughters, Glenda Jernigan, and husband Ken of Lenox and Lauri Jo Bennett and husband Mike of Norman Park; grandchildren, Kristin Jernigan Moore and husband Eric, Genna Jernigan Mobley and husband Matt, Joe Ben Griffin and fiancé Ashley, Mikelyn Bennett Moore and husband Buck, Joe Jernigan and wife Summer, and Hal Bennett; great-grandchildren, Ellie Moore, Jerni Moore, James Mobley, Kate Mobley, Weston Griffin, Bennett Griffin, Molly Moore, Henry Moore, Charlie Moore, William Mobley, Brody Jernigan, John Buck Moore, and Riggs Jernigan; and sister, Phyllis Fletcher of Chula.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colquitt Regional Hospice, 415 Rowland Dr., Moultrie, GA 31768, or to the Mount Olive Baptist Church Building Fund, 126 Mt. Olive Church Rd. Moultrie, Georgia 31788.

The family will be gathering at the home of Lauri Jo and Mike Bennett, 167 Elm Street, Norman Park, Georgia 31771.

Arrangements entrusted to Baker Funeral Home.