Honoring Danny Rashad Sumner

Danny Rashad Sumner was born on December 6, 1987 to Danny & Kents Sumner in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His family affectionately called him by his middle name, Rashad. He was a devout husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He especially held great respect and love for his parents and felt blessed about their relationship. Family was very important to him, and he made sure to always hug those closest to him, never missing an opportunity to show his love. Danny was a respectful, honest and consistent man who always showed up for his family and stood by his word. He loved food, with his favorites being sweets, but he especially loved his mother’s cooking. When spending time with his family, he would often laugh and reminisce on old stories and wrestle with his nephews.

Child of God/Man of Faith

Danny gave his life to Christ as a young child, with his mother leading him. She instilled in him the Bible’s book of Proverbs. With the knowledge that Proverbs focused on wisdom and guidance, he followed these teachings throughout his life, leading with devotion, honesty and integrity.

Devoted Husband and Father

Danny loved family and some of his proudest moments came from creating a family of his own. He married the love of his life and partner, Madeline, on April 22, 2017, marking one of the happiest days of his life. Danny’s love of children reached a higher level when he was blessed with his first son, Donovan Reese Sumner on June 14, 2018. On August 8, 2022, Danny was blessed with his second child, Danilo John Sumner, who he lovingly referred to as D-Lo. Danilo’s birth was an added blessing because Danny was not only able to witness this birth, but he personally delivered Danilo at home in an unexpected turn of events.

Danny was a wonderful provider and did everything in his power to take care of his first ministry – his Family. Danny led his family as a man of God, instilling his values and love of Christ into his children, intentionally seeking to give them his faithful & endless love and devotion. 

Athlete, Teacher, Coach, Leader

Education has always been a special focus in Danny’s life. He attended high school at Paul VI High School from 2002 to 2006. He received a full scholarship to attend William & Mary and play basketball from 2006-2010. There, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in History, with a minor in Secondary Education. Danny later received his Master’s Degree in Special Education from George Mason University in 2019.

Danny developed a love for basketball on his own at an early age. After creating his own basketball hoop while playing, his parents decided to put him on a team and he continued to soar in the sport. He played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for several years, as well as middle and high school basketball, where he was accepted into the esteemed All-Met team alongside a select number of other high achieving high school basketball players.

After completing his basketball career at William & Mary, Danny went on to play internationally in Finland, Iceland, Germany & Canada. He also played a short stint in the NBA G-League (formerly NBA D-League) for the Erie Bayhawks (New York Knicks). His love for basketball never wavered, as he continued to play semi-pro basketball, most recently with the Beltway Bombers for almost 4 seasons, and with the Fredericksburg Grizzlies, where he played for the last 2 seasons.

Danny started his teaching career as a special education teacher in 2013 in Fairfax County Public Schools, teaching multiple subjects, including Middle School Science. He later moved to Prince William County Schools, where he taught Middle School Special Education Math. His most recent position was in Stafford County Public Schools at Brooke Point High School, where he not only taught Special Education Geometry, but also spent some time coaching high school varsity basketball.

In 2018, Danny and his wife started SOLVES, LLC, where he tutored multiple subjects and provided basketball training. By combining his love for basketball and teaching, Danny was able to reach a wide range of students, helping them to improve their academic performance while encouraging and assisting them in attaining higher skills and development. Danny’s tutoring and training endeavors allowed him to have close relationships with his students, all of whom were fond of him, and he was very fond of them as well. His ability to motivate and raise the confidence of his students was one of his greatest talents and was appreciated by those he served.

Danny leaves a substantial community to mourn his absence. Through his basketball career, teaching, tutoring and mentorship, he dedicated his time to pour into others. Those who remember Danny will remember that his life here was filled with love and compassion. He left a profound and memorable impact on all who crossed his path.

We are blessed to have had a wonderful and caring husband, father, son, brother and uncle in our lives. Those who have had the pleasure of knowing him will hold his memory close to their hearts, always remembering his contagious laugh, great hugs, and the way his eyes lit up when he smiled.

In reflection of Danny’s life we take comfort in 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Danny leaves to cherish his everlasting memory: His wife Madeline Sumner; his son Danilo Sumner; parents Danny & Kents Sumner; mother-in-law Dana Turner; father-in-law John Christopher Seaton; grandmother Elma Pugh; sisters Loretta, Kenisha, Sharita (Chad), and Daneca (Steven), nephews Michael, Christopher and Christian, niece Kayla; and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues, teammates and students. 

The presence of Danny & Donovan will be missed by many.