Alvena Summers

November 6, 1930 - September 4, 2013

Alvena Summers, age 82, a resident of Columbia, passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at A.J. Desmond & Sons Mortuary in Royal Oak, Michigan. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements.

Alvena was born on November 6, 1930 in Michigan and was the daughter of the late Leroy and Hattie Peck Salyer. She was married to Clarence Summers for 41 years until his death in 1989. She was a woman behind her man. Her husband was born in Paragon, Arkansas and never learned to read or write, which caused her to become a strong supporter in education. They had two children, Mark and Mary. She has been a wife, mother, realtor, hobbyist Girl Scout leader, mini farm owner, restaurant entrepreneur, licensed stenographer, landlord, and carpentry worker.

Alvena worked alongside her husband, buying and remodeling homes in Michigan and Upper Canada, turning them into beautiful structures to sell. Alvena and her husband purchased a restaurant in the suburbs of Detroit in the ‘70s, naming it Clarence’s. There they were the chief cooks, servers, and bottle washers. One memory she had was with a burglary at the restaurant and store. In order to try and catch the thief they would call home and leave both receivers off the hook and take turns throughout the night listening in on the restaurant for strange noises. When the break-ins continued to occur, they took turns spending nights at the restaurant. This tactic eventually paid off when one night Clarence threw a meat cleaver at the robber’s head after he made it all the way into the business, scaring him. He ran out the door, and they were never bothered again.

Alvena loved animals and once owned a mini farm with horses, pigs, ducks, and cows, which she loved to take care of, along with her Shih Tzu dog named Libby. Alvena was a selfless person, devoted to other’s welfare. She loved people and was available to anyone who needed a kind word, a hot meal, or an extra pair of hands. She was a wonderful person who was well liked and loved by all who knew her.

THE FAMILY WISHES TO THANK ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT MORNING POINTE ASSISTED LIVING FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY CARE, PATIENCE, AND LOVE.

She is survived by her son: Mark (Jane) Summers of Clarkston, MI; daughter: Mary (Mike) Hensley of Columbia, TN; and granddaughters: Nicole and Katie Summers of Clarkston, MI.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Chester and Enloe Salyer and one sister: Charlene Duncan.
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