January 14, 2025, 80, Seven Springs —
Donald Monroe Summerlin, 80, of Seven Springs, passed away at Wayne Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, after a brief illness. He was born February 4, 1944, in Duplin County, NC to the late Stephen Lloyd Summerlin and Nona Anderson Summerlin.
Mr. Summerlin married his beloved wife, Bonnie Lula Creech Summerlin, on February 25, 1968. Both came from farming families, and both retired from the U.S. Postal Service. They worked hard and built a good life, always putting family and faith first. They spent 53 years together before her death in 2021. Mr. Summerlin had also served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era and was recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, among other commendations.
He is survived by daughter, Donna Marie Summerlin Hamm (David) of Powells Point, North Carolina; son, Donald Matthew Summerlin of Seven Springs; and beloved grandchildren, Caleb Austin Hamm, Cayleigh Hope Summerlin, Seth Ayden Hamm, and Matthew Peyton Summerlin.
Mr. Summerlin is also survived by brothers, Ivey Summerlin of Alabama, Rick Summerlin of Kenansville, and Steve Summerlin (Brenda) of Kenansville; sister, Nona “Honey” Tippett-Honeycutt of Clinton; brother-in-law Edgar Gurley of Clinton, and a host of in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife Bonnie; grandson, Hunter Matthew Summerlin; sister, Francis “Frankie” Gilbert and her husband, Lou, sister, Christine Gurley; brother, Gordon Summerlin and his wife, Lillian, brother, Ray Summerlin and his wife Thelma, brother Kennon Summerlin and his wife Marie, brother Gerald Summerlin, brothers-in-law, Paul Tippett and Clyde Honeycutt; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Summerlin and Katherine Summerlin.
Services will be held at Tyndall Funeral Home in Mount Olive, on Sunday, January 19, at 1:30 p.m. with burial to follow at Wayne Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Tyndall Funeral Home on Saturday, January 18, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., and at the home at other times.
