Ed was the son of the late James Edward Sumpter and Frankie Euwilda Short. He was a graduate of Princeton University, Class of 1952, and graduated from The University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1956. After completing his residency at The University of Rochester, Dr. Sumpter practiced pediatrics in Rochester until joining the faculty at The University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1976. In 1981, he moved to Halifax County, North Carolina, where he joined Roanoke Amaranth, a nonprofit medical group serving eastern North Carolina. In 1989, he joined the faculty at the East Carolina University School of Medicine as Director of Outpatient Pediatrics. While there, he founded the TEDI Bear Children’s Advocacy Center.
Dr. Sumpter retired from medical practice in 1995. Dr. Sumpter’s primary focus throughout his career was to serve the underserved. He spent periods of time in Haiti and Thailand providing medical care to those in need. After retiring, Dr. Sumpter moved to Wellfleet, Massachusetts, until 2005, when he returned to North Carolina to live in Raleigh.
Ed is survived by his wife, Jeanne Penning Sumpter; son, David; daughter, Ann Harth; step-son William Sharpe; and step-daughters Jennifer Schwartz, Elizabeth See and Sarah Vestal; and thirteen grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to TEDI Bear Children’s Advocacy Center, 2303 Executive Circle, Greenville, NC 27834, or Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605.
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