Mary Frances Bryant Sumner, of Rocky Mount, was born November 10, 1931 in Halifax County to the late Kinzie Bryant and Lucille Jones Bryant. She passed away Monday, February 19, 2018.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Henry Sumner, Sr.; one son, Howard, Jr.; one grandson, John; her father, Kinzie, Sr. and step-mother Marie; two sisters, Elizabeth, and Lula; six brothers, Elliott, Willie, Kinzie, Jr., Bennie, Alvin and Rufus; foster mother, Ellen; foster father, Willie; foster sisters, Bertha, Willa Mae, Delilah; foster brothers, Rossie Lee and Woodrow.

She is survived by three daughters, Joyce Massenburg, Irene Woherem, both of Rocky Mount, Edith Battle of New Jersey; two sons, Walter Sumner of Rocky Mount and Jeremiah Sumner of Battleboro; two sons-in-law, Sorell Massenburg and V. DuWayne Battle and two daughters-in-law, Ann Sumner and Doris Sumner; two sisters, Lillian Brown (Charles) of Gahanna, OH and Vanessa Battle (Eddie) of Temple Hills, MD; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Church on the Rise, Rocky Mount, with Pastor Richard Gurganus and Rev. Dr. V. DuWayne Battle officiating. Burial will follow the service at Sumner Family Cemetery, 2221 Old 125 Road, Halifax, NC 27839. A Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. prior to the service in the Sanctuary of Church on the Rise.

Arrangements by Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Rocky Mount.