Harry (Harriman) O. Summerford

Glover Funeral Home of Dothan

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Posted by: Glover Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-699-3888
Date: Jun 12 2023 1:42 PM

Harry (Harriman) O. Summerford…. Affectionately known as HOS to many.

Visitation will be at Glover Funeral Home Wednesday, June 14, at 9:30-10:45, Graveside services will be at Ashford City Cemetery at 11:45 following the visitation with Reverend Dennis Singletary officiating.

Harry stepped over into Heaven to his forever life on June 11. He was a simple man who loved his family and friends well. Often, he told people he was “just an ole country boy from Route 1 Gordon”. One of the highlights of his life was being Poppa to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Oh, how he loved his family! Sibling trips and breakfast gatherings over the years were among his favorite things.

Harry was born at home on August 7, 1933, in Gordon. He was the eldest of four children born to Harriman Oscar Summerford and Georgia McArthur Summerford. He graduated from Ashford High School and spent one quarter at API (Auburn) before he joined the navy. He served aboard the USS Iowa Battleship BB-61 from 1952-1956. Headed home by Greyhound bus from Atlanta to Dothan in late 1955, he met the love of his life Leslie Wilson. They married on a Tuesday just before Christmas in December 1956. He graduated in 1959 from Alabama Polytechnic Institute with a bachelor’s degree in business—just shy of the name change to Auburn University. War Eagle! He was a banker by trade, and he began lending money at a time when a man’s word was his bond.  Along the way he made dear and unforgettable friends … Ronald, Hank, Terry, Gloria, and too many others to name. He retired from SouthTrust bank in 1996. Harry and Leslie’s legacy includes two children: daughter Leigh born in Opelika 1958 and son Doug born in Florence in July 1962.

Harry is survived by daughter Leigh Taylor (Randy) and daughter-in-law Kathy Summerford.  Grandchildren: Jacob Summerford (Corinne), Dana Bowden, Nicolett Butler, Gavin Taylor (Mallory), Camilla Roberts (Lane) and Perry Summerford.  4 great granddaughters: Quinn, Nora, Rowan and Ava James. Siblings: George Summerford, Patsey Smith, and Cindy Aman (Stanley) “aka the family glue”, a brother-in-law, Joe Wilson (Macon, GA.), many special nieces and nephews and cousins, special family Mike and Carol Jones. Thank you, Amy McNeill, for all of the “Amy’s pickles” (and the mayhaw jelly) that brought such joy to his taste buds.

Harry is preceded in death by wife Leslie, son Douglas, grandson Gabriel Addison, and his parents.

Thank you to the many caregivers along the journey who affectionally called Harry “Poppa”.  April Poe, Impatia NP, you are precious to us.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to: Highlands Elementary School, “Summerford Seedlings 4H Garden Project”, 1400 Brannon Stand Road, Dothan, AL 36305 in honor of Doug or to the Leslie Wilson Summerford Memorial Nursing Scholarship, with attention, Tracy Brooks, Wallace College Foundation, 1141 Wallace Drive, Dothan AL 36301

“Let all you do be done in love” 1 Corinthians 16:14

Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com

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