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Memories of JD Sumner
JD Sumner
"If you really knew him, you loved him"
It is not my intent in these Memories blogs to present a history of a person or a group, but to present a personal glimpse of the people I have known and loved in Southern Gospel Music. Some things I say in these blogs are very personal, and were shared with me over the years. I repeat them only so that each of you will come to know and love these people like I have.
Of the many friends I have had over these past fiftyish years in Southern Gospel Music JD stands in a category of his own. JD, to many folks was an exercise in contradictions, when in fact he was a very predictable man. Many thought JD tough, gruff, boastful and so on. Actually JD was just the opposite. JD was a softy, he would cry at the drop of a hat. Most times his tough guy act was to keep him from crying and as he told me, "I'll make a fool of myself."
JD was generous to a fault. He would give the last dollar he had on him to a complete stranger. I have witnessed this act myself.
JD and I had many teasing discussions about our beliefs. JD was Church of God, and he believed he had to get saved again everytime he sinned. I am an "Eternal Security " believing Southern Baptist. JD would tell me about something he did and had to get save again for, then he would tell me, "One of the days I'm going to become an eternal security believing Southern Baptist like you so I don't have to get saved so often." We had the greatest respect for each other and our respective beliefs.
Pictured L/R JD Sumner, Jerry Kirksey, Mary Sumner and grandson Jason Enoch.
This photo was taken at JD and Mary's condo. JD turned their spare bedroom into his den and trophy room. JD told me, "I don't let anyone spend the night here. I even put my mom up in the best hotel in Nashville when she comes to visit. However, I learned the rules were broken for grandson Jason. He got to spend the night anytime he wanted to.
I have made hundreds of trips to Nashville over the years, and one of the highlights of many of those trips were my visits with JD and Mary at the office and their home. I can't remember the name of it, but there was this small cafe not to far from JD's office that he and Mary went to a lot. When I was in town we always had lunch there. JD loved down home cooking; greens, cornbread, peas, orka, corn, tomatoes, pork chops and so on. This little cafe cooked all this stuff, greasy and tasty. We loved it.
I also loved Mary. Mary Sumner was one of the sweetest, most pleasant, friendly ladies I have ever known. She was a joy to be with. She and JD were meant for each other. I know of no lady who loved and respected her husband more than Mary did JD. And JD would cry every time he started talking about Mary to me. JD loved Mary like a husband should love his wife. Mary's death was an overwhelming blow to JD. He never got over it. JD was never the same after Mary died, I really believe he lost his passion for life.
I have been asked this question several times. Do you really believe JD was saved? My answer, "I know JD was saved." JD like all of us, are sinners saved by grace. JD would freely talk to me about the times in his life, he wished he could change. Then he would tell me, "I know Jesus, as good as any man, and Jesus knows JD even better than JD does. That's why calvary was necessary." And then he would add the JD to it. "It just takes a little more grace for me than it does for some others." JD accepted his free gift of salvation and fully accepted the fact he like all of us was unworthy. On one occassion he said something that went kinda like this. "It's knowing what you've done, and knowing that Jesus knows what you've done, and that He still loves and forgives you anyway. This is what makes me really love Jesus." Yes, my friends JD Sumner was a saved man.
JD and Mary Sumner
JD Sumner's earthly loves centered around his wife Mary and singing. He was a died in the wool old style Stamps-Baxter traditional Quartet man. He spent many years of his life working on his dream of a Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and was very involved right up to his death in our Hall of Fame in Pigeon Forge, TN.
Photo: The Sunshine Boys Quartet L/R Fred Daniel, Eddie Wallace, JD. Sumner, and Ace Richman and of course Charles Starrett the Durango Kid. JD and Eddie Wallace are members of the SGMA Hall of Fame and I am sure Fred Daniel, and Ace Richman will join them someday. The name of the movie this photo is from is "Prairie Round-up." I have a video of it, and I enjoy watching it from time to time.
As a young boy I would go to the Sky Chief movie theater in Brownsville, Florida on Saturday mornings. Most of the time a western movie was the feature. One of my favorites was the "Durango Kid." Little did I know at the time one of the cowboy singers in the Durango Kid movies would someday be one of my best buddies. By the way my allowance was 25 cents, and for one quarter I got my 10 cent ticket , pop corn, a candy bar and a drink for the other 15 cents. Some of you guys remember those times also I am sure.
This photo is the first photo taken of the re-organized Blackwood Brothers Quartet after the plane crash. It was taken in Clanton, AL the same town where RW Blackwood and Bill Lyes were killed in the crash. The date of this photo is August 4, 1956.
Pictured L/R top Wally Varner, James Blackwood, Bill Shaw, seated: Cecil Blackwood and JD Sumner.
Can you imagine the guts it would take to walk out in public wearing a suit like these, JD thought they were cool, all though he blamed them on Cecil.
This photo was taken in the early 70's at a then Southern Gospel Music Dove Awards program. L/R Charlie Monk, BMI Music, JD Sumner and Jerry Kirksey. Look Ma no gray hair.
An early photo of JD's new Stamps Quartet. Top L/R Donnie Sumner, JD's nephew, Jim Hill singer songwriter, he wrote "What A Day That Will Be," JD, Jimmie Blackwood son of James and Mim Blackwood and the little guy seated in the center is "Tarzen." That's what JD called him. His name is Tony Brown and he is an excellent pianist/musician/producer and he grew up to be the head honcho at MCA Records in Nashville.
JD Sumner and Elvis on stage
JD and the Stamps were the back-up Quartet for Elvis for several years. They were getting ready to leave for a concert tour the day Elvis died. Elvis and JD had been close friends since Elvis was a teenager attending Blackwood Brothers concerts in Memphis. Elvis's family was very poor and JD would let Elvis into the concerts through the back door of the auditorium. JD had no way of knowing what the future held for Elvis. JD was just being JD; generous and helping a young kid who loved quartet singing. Their mutuality was their love for Southern Gospel Quartet singing.
This photo was taken at the Singing News office on our putting green. L/R Rex Nelon, JD Sumner and Jerry Kirksey.
This photo was taken at "Shadracks" Bar B Que the night before the Singing News Golf Classic was to begin. L/R Jerry Kirksey and Bob Brumley standing, JD Sumner seated.
As most of you JD fans know, JD loved to play golf. In his later years after he had some heart problems etc. he could not handle to much golf. I have never played a game of golf in my life, but I always enjoyed riding the golf cart with JD when we were at some Southern Gospel Music golfing event. JD alway wanted me to keep his score card. He and I would get in the golf cart and take off. We would pull up to a tee and park. JD would ask me, "what's par for this hole?" I would say whatever, let's say it was five, JD would say, " give me a three. I know Younce (George) and Rex (Nelon) are cheating anyway." I would write down a three and JD would start up the golf cart and we would go to the next hole. When the day and game was over JD would drive us back to the clubhouse with a filled out score card, a very good score most times. We had never exited the cart, not one time. Now that's my idea of a great game of golf.
JD and Jerry Kirksey testing out a fancy golf cart at the National Quartet Convention
George Younce and JD had been playing jokes on each other for many years. I am not sure if JD was trying to heal George in this photo, or pushing George away from the mic so he couldn't be heard.
Pictured L/R JD Sumner, Ed Hill, "Younce" and Jim Sheets.
I know you won't believe this, but JD made a boo boo one night. He was having a problem with his thyroid glands. They had been giving him some pain. One night while he was doing some of his usual talking and rambling on, and his throat was bothering him, he put his left hand around his throat and said, "my hemorrhoids are killing me tonight." Of couse the everyone fell apart. After the laughter died down, JD said, "I don't know much about "rhoids." I just know one of them is killing me." Unfortunately for JD and old friend Jim Sheets heard what he said. Jim made up a batch of T-shirts with a drawing of JD with a mic in his right hand and his left hand around this throat and the words printed, "My, hemorrhoids are killing me tonight." Those of you who know Jim, know he is a walking encyclopedia of Southern Gospel Music history. Jim, knowing all about the long standing joke playing going on between JD and "Younce" told "Younce" what he had done. Jim took the T-Shirts to the next concert where JD and "Younce" were. Jim and "Younce" pulled out the T-shirts and sold them, all of them !
Mary, used to stay on JD all the time about his messy office, but it never did any good. Younce said, "JD's a slob, Mary you can't clean up a slob."
 
If tall and thin is beautiful, then JD was a beauty in his younger years. I won't even comment on the other photo.
This is the way JD traveled most of the time. He didn't like the beds on the bus, so he'd just sleep in his favorite chair. And God help you if you woke sleeping beauty up, he'd breathe on you.
I have hundreds more photos of JD, but not the space to run them all. Maybe I'll pick some more for another day. I hope this blog will give you some insight into the real JD Sumner. JD was the kind of friend everyone wants to have. He was always there, no questions asked, only love and help given freely. JD loved our music and our industry. He has earned his place in our Hall of Fame. His contributions will forever be a foundation to build upon. I am proud to have known him and to be among his many, many friends. I thank God for sending JD to Southern Gospel Music and believe with all my heart JD accomplished the jobs God had assigned to him.
Copyright by Jerry Kirksey 2005
Posted by Jerry Kirksey at 12:00 PM - Send Comments -   Email This Post
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