Margaret Sumners Witte, 98, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008 in Tallahassee, Fla.
She was born on Feb. 2, 1910 in Natchez, Miss. to Harry and Edith Sprague De Witt. She graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge during the Great Depression and taught high school in Sicily Island. She married Alvie Cecil Sumners, and subsequently lived in Baton Rouge, Algiers and Paradis.
Beginning in the early 50s, she taught high school English in St. Charles Parish. After the death of Cecil Sumners in 1964, she continued teaching until the early 70’s. In the mid-70’s, she married Louis John Witte, and the couple divided their time between Santa Monica, Calif. and Paradis. Widowed a second time, Margaret moved to Tallahassee, Fla. in 1981 to be near family, and lived in the Lafayette Park neighborhood. She was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, Circle Nine.
She is survived by two sons, Cecil Sumners Jr. (Betty) of Charlotte, N.C., and De Witt Sumners (Neddy) of Tallahassee, Fla. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Edith Sumners Ross of Cornelia, Ga., Joanna Sumners Snyder (Scott) of Tallahassee, Fla., Laura-Kaye Sumners Norman (John) of Waxhaw, N.C, Julia Sumners Anderson (Derry) of Plano, Texas, and Lee Keller Sumners of San Francisco, Calif. She is also survived by eleven great-grandchildren: Joanna Cecile Ross, Frances Marin Ross and Helen Ward Ross of Cornelia, Ga.; Margaret Hayes Snyder and Kellett Marie Snyder of Tallahassee, Fla.; Luke Joseph Anderson, Lauren Elizabeth Anderson, and Julia Claire Anderson of Plano, Texas; Jonah Bryant Norman, Hannah Elizabeth Norman, and Lily Sumners Norman of Waxhaw, N.C. Daughter Margaret Cecile Sumners, and great-grandson James De Witt Ross predeceased Margaret. The family appreciates the very special care given to Margaret by Maple Hamilton and by Big Bend Hospice.
Graveside services were held at the St. Charles Cemetery and Mausoleum in Luling, at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 120 W. Park Avenue, Tallahassee, Fla., with a reception that followed at 650 East Sixth Avenue, Tallahassee. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 or Trinity United Methodist Church (HEO), P.O. Box 1086, Tallahassee, FL 32302
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