Esma Elizabeth (Wilson) Sumpter, age 78, of Madison passed away Saturday, October 31, 2015. Esma was born July 6, 1937 in Widen, WV to the late A. Lee and Sarah Allean (Bailey) Wilson. She was a 1957 Graduate of Burnsville High School in Braxton County where she was a cheerleader, Homecoming Queen and a member of All State Band. She was Strawberry Festival Princess at Buckhannon, WV. She moved to Madison in 1958. On November 26, 1959 she was married to Gary D. Sumpter. She attended Glenville State College and West Virginia State. She was a Kindergarten Teachers Aide at Madison Elementary and Boone County Kindergarten Academy from 1974 - 2001. She was a 50 Year member of the Order of Eastern Star Madison Chapter #121 where she served as Worthy Matron. She was also a member of the Junior Women’s Club, The Wildwood Garden Club where she served as President, Member of the Madison United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Myrtle Lyon’s Circle and sang in the choir. Member of the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees and the Boone County Association of Retired School Employees.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years Gary D. Sumpter, her daughter; Donna Marie Adkins-Woods (Gray) of Danville, her son; Mark Edward Sumpter (Kim Price, financeé) of Madison, her sisters; Helen V. White of Acworth, GA and Juanita M. Boggs of Nitro, WV, three grandchildren; Andrew L. Adkins (Mike Adkins, father deceased), Hunter N. Sumpter and Maggie Sumpter (Sherry Sumpter, mother and daughter-in-law), and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and a brother William Lee Wilson Sr.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Handley Funeral Home, Danville WV, with Pastor Buddy Chapman and Rev. Rick Swearengin officiating.
Entombment will follow at Memory Gardens in Low Gap. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Madison United Methodist Church, PO Box 216, Madison, WV 25130.
The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.