George Sumner

George Russell Sumner, 83, a lifelong resident of Metairie, Louisiana passed away peacefully on February 24, 2025. George is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Diane Barnwell Sumner and his two daughters, Nancy Sumner Hewitt (Rob) and Stephanie Sumner Bass (Ricky). One of his greatest joys in life was being a grandfather to Caroline, Liza and Leighton Hewitt and Sumner and Gibson Bass. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Sumner Turner of Hattiesburg and Ann Sumner Holmes of Baton Rouge. He was predeceased by his father, Prentiss Edgar Sumner, and his mother, Mildred Nobles Sumner. Born on June 23, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, George grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi attending schools in Hattiesburg and graduated high school from Sewanee Military Academy. He attended Millsaps College where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Accounting. George served in the U.S. Army Reserve. He began his business career as a Certified Public Accountant at the firm of Ernst & Ernst for a few years. He then began work at Eustis Mortgage, where he built a connection with Laurance Eustis that would shape his professional life. George served as Executive Vice President and Partner at Eustis Mortgage for several years, and his journey continued at Eustis Insurance, where he became President, Chief Executive Officer, and later Chairman Emeritus. His work left a lasting impact on colleagues and the industry, and his leadership will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working with him. George was a member of the Boston Club and the Metairie Country Club and served on the Salvation Army Board and the Board of Trustees and Board of Visitors at St. Martin’s Episcopal School where his girls attended for a span of 18 years. In later years, George loved traveling the world and enjoying restaurants and the culture of New Orleans with his loving wife Diane and their numerous friends. George was a true “girl dad” who cheered his girls on in their endeavors, offered wisdom when needed, and provided them with an endless supply of love. Known for his quick wit and love of debate, he relished engaging with anyone in discussions on a wide range of topics, often playing devil’s advocate to encourage lively conversations. His passion for reading and history was evident in his extensive personal library and his joy of teaching his children and grandchildren through his stories. Beyond his intellectual pursuits, George’s greatest love and joy was his family. He treasured time spent with his grandchildren, who lovingly called him “Papa” or “George”, whether attending their events in Covington or Shreveport, sharing stories, or simply enjoying their company. His legacy of love, humor, and curiosity will continue to inspire all who knew him, and his unwavering dedication to his family will live on in the lessons he taught and the love he gave so freely. The family would like to give special thanks to the caring staff at Longleaf at Christwood and Modern Hospice. For those who would like to honor him with a memorial, please consider donations to St. Martin’s Episcopal School or the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The visitation and memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124. The visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. A private interment for the family will follow within Metairie Cemetery.