Joseph Summers

Joseph "Joe" Vincent Summers, II (83) of Trussville, Alabama, beloved husband of Faye Burdette Summers of 62 years, went home peacefully to be with the Lord in his home on December 17, 2022. He was the proud father of Cindy Joiner (Chip), Christy Johnson (Don), and Chad Summers (Monique), and the adoring grandfather of Shelby Joiner, Trent Joiner, Austin Raney, Anna Katherine Summers, and Caroline Summers, all who knew him lovingly as "Papa."

Joe held Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Alabama (a music education major), where he was a first-chair trumpet player in the Million Dollar Band. A lifetime educator, Joe led as Band Director at Elba High School, Hewitt-Trussville High School, and Leeds High School, also serving at Gardendale and Shades Valley High Schools. He was an innovator, building the foundation for what the Hewitt-Trussville band program is today. Joe had a passion for music, and shared that passion with countless students over the course of his 33 year education career, inspiring many to go on and pursue their own careers in music. A member of First Baptist Church Trussville for over 50 years, Joe played trumpet in the FBCT Orchestra until the last years of his life. He also served as interim minister of music at several churches in his lifetime.

Joe loved his family dearly, loved the Crimson Tide, loved music, enjoyed "tinkering" in his wood shop, and loved to travel with his wife and best friend, Faye. He had a soft place in his heart for children, and could be counted on to stop whatever he was doing to talk to kids of all ages. He had a kind heart, and a unique sense of humor that made him one of a kind.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Winfred and Doris Summers, and his siblings Leonard Summers, Anna Nell Summers, Lorena Summers Davis, Harold "Buddy" Summers, and Jean Wilder Lee, brothers-in-law James Wilder and Frank Davis, and his nephew James Wilder, Jr. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, his older brother, Bill Summers (Chris), nephews Roy Summers (Charlie), Kirk Summers (Jan), and Dennis Davis (Yvonne), and nieces Anna Sprayberry (Wayne), Patsy Brown (Donnie), Jan Koch (Dave), Ashley Foster (John), Carla Davis, and Beth Hendricks (Russell), and a host of great nephews and nieces.

In honor of his love for children, the family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made in his memory to St. Jude's Hospital (stjude.org/donate).

Services will take place at First Baptist Church Trussville at Noon, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, with visitation taking place from 10:00am-12:00pm.

The service will be live-streamed at live.fbctrussville.org