Patricia Ann Harris Sumrell, 83, of Pine Mountain, GA died Saturday January 5, 2012 in Greenville, GA after a long illness.

A memorial service followed by reception will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, January 12 at the Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, GA with Rev. Mabry Collins officiating.

Mrs. Sumrell was born October 26, 1929 in Kings Mountain, NC. She was the daughter of the late Bessie Glenn (Ramseur) Harris and the late Earnest Baton Harris. She graduated from the Women’s College of North Carolina in Greensboro in 1952. She began her teaching career in 1963 as the music teacher for the Harris County School System. In 1969 she began teaching private piano lessons for students at Brookstone School in Columbus GA. In 1973 she became the school’s music teacher and chorus director. She was the creator of the “Beaux & Bells” bell choir at Brookstone which gave numerous performances throughout the Southeast. During this time she was also a church organist and choir director for Hamilton Baptist Church and for Pine Mountain Methodist Church. She retired from Brookstone in 1985. She continued private piano lessons at her home until 2002. She also was an organist at Callaway Gardens for over 30 years.

She is survived by Billy Bennett Sumrell, her husband of 60 years; three sons - William Bennett Sumrell (Lisa) of Awendaw, SC, Jerald Earnest Sumrell (Jennifer) of Fairfax, VA, and James Keith Sumrell (Maria) of Pine Mountain, GA; one daughter - Patricia Glenn Sumrell of Thousand Oaks, CA; three grandsons - Robert Bennett Sumrell (Margaret) of Dallas TX, Matthew Richard Dunaj, IV of Brooklyn, NY and Zachary Gordon Dunaj of Thousand Oaks, CA; and one granddaughter - Tinsley Anne Harris Sumrell of Fairfax, VA.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hamilton Baptist Church, Pine Mountain Methodist Church, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Cox Funeral Home, Hamilton, www.coxfh.com.