In the winter of 2015, the community of Somerville, Alabama, mourned the loss of Jimmy Dale 'J.D.' Summerford, a 46-year-old local man. His passing on Sunday, January 11, 2015, in Lawrence County left a void in the lives of his family and friends. A truck driver by profession, he was a familiar face to many in the area. Born on May 30, 1968, in the neighboring Morgan County, he was the son of Brenda Ryder and the late Jerry Roy Summerford.
Details surrounding the circumstances of his death remain private, as no publicly available online sources provide information regarding any arrests or suspects in connection with his passing. The available information is limited to his obituary, which focuses on his life and the family he left behind. He was survived by his mother, Brenda Ryder; an ex-wife, Lashelle Kirby; a son, Justin Summerford; and three daughters, Jade Corum, Ashley Summerford, and Briana Summerford. He also left behind a grandson, Brantley Corum, as well as five brothers and two sisters.
A funeral service to honor his life was held on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at Parkway Funeral Home, with Pastor Jessie L. Wright Sr. officiating. Following the service, he was laid to rest in Lebanon Cemetery. Pallbearers included John Lee Garrison, Anthony Robinson, Scott Sheffield, Jonathan Bailey, Tyler Tippett, Dustin Carter, and Tyler Gatlin. The absence of any further information in public records suggests that his death was not treated as a criminal matter by law enforcement.
