Elvie Summerall "Gene"

On Saturday December 11, 2021 at the age of 73 years, our beloved father, grandfather, husband, uncle, and friend, Elvie J. Summerall, peacefully made his transition to be with the Lord. He was born July 12, 1948 in Greenwood, Mississippi, son of Percy L. Summerall and Littie A. Holland-Summerall-Woodard.

Known as “Gene” or “Eugene” by his family and friends, he relocated with his parents and five siblings to Cleveland, Ohio in 1957. Raised in a Christian home, “Gene” attended Cleveland Public Schools where he graduated from East High School. He was an excellent basketball player and ran cross-country. He was a good athlete who played sports year-round, taking up baseball for the Muny youth program in Cleveland during the summer. Following high school, he worked in a mortuary and on the railroad at Conrail. Gene was quite the handyman being known for trying to outwork his siblings painting and doing carpentry work for the neighborhood. Gene attended college for a short time where he had a participial to learn about pharmaceuticals.

In the late 1960’s early 1970’s, Gene would have his share of traveling. He moved to Grand Rapids, where he used his passion for counseling to mentor others. He also settled in Saginaw, Michigan, where his mother “MuDear,” stepfather and three younger siblings resided. Although Gene was not a father until April of 1986, he was always considered a father figure for many others with or without fathers, and an outstanding uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Gene was very protective of those he cared for, which made him a giving individual who was considerate and showed love for so many others.

Elvie “Gene” would later on become a cook working at a community college as well as becoming the “Donut Man” at Dawn Donuts. Gene moved back to Cleveland, Ohio, working as lead Baker at Dunkin Donuts. He married for a short while as he continued to pursue his life in the bakery industry. After a debilitating illness Gene relocated to Saginaw, Michigan. Due to his athleticism and faith in God, Gene miraculously recovered and moved on to have a fulfilling life working at Absolute! Building Maintenance, along with attending Christ Fellowship Baptist Church regularly serving as an usher where he soon after met and married Inez Hinton.

Elvie leaves to cherish his memory his wife Inez Hinton-Summerall; one daughter, Shotara L. O’Neal of Saginaw, Michigan; one step-son, Tyrone (June) Nadir, Englewood, Ohio; four grandchildren, Aniya D. Chambers and Averi D. Burrell of Saginaw, Michigan, Tyrone A. Nadir II and Camryn A. Nadir, Englewood, Ohio; three sisters, Betty J. (Albert) Mitchell, Cleveland, Ohio, Shirley (Elbert) Young and Marchelle (Derric) Martin, both of Saginaw, Michigan; two brothers Percy L.(Nyoka) Summerall, Jr., Cleveland, Ohio, James L. (Susan) Summerall, Memphis, Tennessee; four sisters- in-law, Peggy Summerall, Cleveland, Ohio, Debra Abdullah, Cynthia M. Jones, Thelma (Donald) Johnson; one brother-in-law, Roy (Yvonne) Hinton, Jr.; one aunt, Christean James, Chicago, Illinois; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special friends, Edward Future, Rick Moe Holmes, and The Sutton, O’Neal and Future Family.

Mr. Elvie Summerall was preceded in death by his father, Percy L. Summerall; mother, Littie A. Holland-Summerall-Woodard; stepfather, Maurice Woodard; stepson, Terrance R. Hinton; brother, Sylvester Summerall; sisters, Bobbie J. Summerall, and Annie L. Moultrie; paternal and maternal grandparents.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Wellspring Lutheran Services of Frankenmuth, Ascension St. Mary’s, Great Lakes P.A.C.E, and A&D Hospice.


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