Bobbie Hasty Summers peacefully passed away at her home Wednesday morning, November 3, 2021.
Mrs. Summers was born in Omega, Georgia on March 13, 1927, the oldest child of Joseph Edward and Macy Verlyn Lawhorne Hasty. At an early age, she and her family moved to Sumner, Georgia, where she grew up and attended school, graduating from Sumner High School in 1944. Mrs. Summers kept in close contact with her graduating class throughout her life, taking her office as class secretary seriously and helping to organize as well as attending every yearly class reunion until the last in 2019.
Mrs. Summers married Charles Raymond (C.R.) Summers in June of 1944 and came to live on the Tift County farm where she and her husband would rear five daughters and where she would reside the rest of her life.
A woman of faith, Mrs. Summers, as a newlywed, joined Mount Zion Baptist Church of Chula, where she was a devoted member for over 70 years. She was very active in children and youth activities at the church, helping establish the Girls Auxiliary Program and Vacation Bible School, serving as director several times. She also acted as Training Union Director and taught the Adult Ladies Sunday School class from 1963 to 2018.
Always an involved member of the Chula community, Mrs. Summers was in the Home Demonstration Club until it was dissolved. Then, she and a group of former members organized the 5-C Club, of which she served as president and participated over the years in the club’s many projects. She was also an advisor to the Tift County Young Farmers Wives organization.
Mrs. Summers took an active role supporting her daughters’ educations, serving as president of the Chula School Parent Teacher Association multiple times and was also president of the Tift County PTA Council.
Mrs. Summers loved working in her yard and growing beautiful flowers. She especially enjoyed an annual trip with her daughters, traveling as far west as Alaska and as far east as the United Kingdom. She was always ready for a game of hand and foot and looked forward to football season each year so she could cheer for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Mrs. Summers was predeceased by her husband of 59 years; her parents and five siblings – Mary Jo Gibbs, Donnie Edward Hasty, Gerald Luke Hasty, Aubrey Gene Hasty, and Maxie Darrell Hasty; three grandchildren – Chad and April Kay Giddens and Tommy Bryan; and two sons-in-law – Danny Alexander and Rex Giddens.
Mrs. Summers was at her happiest when present at an event where she could support and applaud her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by five daughters: Karen Bryan (Marvin), Pavo, GA; Kathy Alexander, Karmen Giddens, and Kay Bowen (Harry), all of Tifton; and Karol Pfister (Chip), St. Simon’s Island, GA. Mrs. Summers has nine surviving grandchildren: Andy Bryan (Amy), Crawfordville, FL; Krista Dance, Pavo, GA; Zack Alexander (Jennifer), Tifton; Ryan Giddens, Tifton; Macy Bowen (Melissa), Atlanta; Allie Johnston (J.P.), Tifton; Mary Charles Deberry (Justin), Golden, CO; Will Pfister, Tifton; and MacLean Pfister, Denver, CO. She also has twelve great-grandchildren. One of her six siblings survives: Barbara Brannen (Joe), Monticello, AR. Additionally, Mrs. Summers is survived by a nephew whom she and her husband raised, Bobby Joe Summers (Linda), Sylvester, GA, as well as Stephen Meeks (Joy), Screven, GA; and Timothy Meeks, Alapaha, GA, who were loved like sons by Mrs. Summers and her husband.
The family wishes to thank Mae Barnes for her years of devoted caregiving as well as Angela Hurley and the wonderful ladies from Linda Gray’s service – Brenda, Cynthia, Daphne and Teresa. Additionally, the family thanks the attending members from Hospice of Tift Area for their compassionate intervention.
Funeral services will be at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Chula at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 6. Mrs. Summers will be laid to rest at Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Chula.
Pallbearers will be Mrs. Summers’ grandsons and great-grandsons. Relatives and friends may meet the family in the church social hall one hour before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mount Zion Baptist Church, 293 Mount Zion Church Road, Chula, GA 31733.