Reverend Harry Sommers Jr.

Reverend Harry Stearns Sommers, Jr., passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Harry was born October 25, 1937, in Washington D.C. to Harry and Alice McCracken Sommers. Harry was raised on the family's dairy farm in Paeonian Springs, Virginia, where the day began very early. Harry learned how to milk cows, cut hay, feed chickens, and what it was like to work at a very young age. He always spoke fondly of life on the farm and the never-ending adventures it offered. He graduated high school from Augusta Military Academy, where he excelled in football, baseball, and swimming. He was a Captain in the Roller Rifle Corps of Cadets and had an athletic scholarship offer to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in swimming the backstroke.

Harry left the college offer on the table after his high school graduation, said goodbye to his parents, and siblings, Patricia, Mary, and Alice, left the farm, and enlisted in the United States Air Force. Harry went to basic training in San Antonio, Texas where he also went to school to become an Air Policeman. Harry was then given orders to report to his duty assignment in Lake Charles, Louisiana, at Chennault Air Base. Chennault at that time was part of the United States Strategic Air Command, and one of the homes to the B 47 Bomber. Dad often spoke of long Louisiana nights standing guard on the flight line. His Air Force time sent him to Africa, Egypt, Morrocco, Tripoli, and other places around the world. He always said he saw the world thanks to the Air Force. It was in the Air Force that he met the absolute love of his life, Ruth Parker from Moss Bluff, Louisiana. They were married November 26, 1957, in Orange, Texas, and had two boys, Harry S. Sommers III (Trip born in 1959) and William A. Sommers, Sr. (Bill born in1962).

After receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in 1960, Harry, Ruth, and now Trip, left Louisiana as Dad took a job with the Fairfax County Police. Harry loved the Fairfax County Police. He always had the greatest stories of the different teams he worked with and ultimately became their leader. Because of his service to the country in the Air Force, Harry went to American University at night on the GI bill, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. Juggling a hectic job, a wife, and two very active boys was hard, but he always credited Mom for being the glue that held it together. He graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy, Class 109 in 1977. Harry rose to the rank of Major with the Fairfax County Police, having Patrol, Investigations, Traffic, and Air under his command. He chose to retire in June of 1981 to honor a promise he made to Mom about coming back to Louisiana after retirement.

After moving back to Louisiana, specifically Moss Bluff, Harry worked for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, was Chief of Police in Jennings, La., and finally retired for good (sort of) as Jimmy Andrus' Chief Deputy at the Calcasieu Parish Clerk's Office in 2004. Harry was very much involved in the Pentecostal Church. He was baptized in the name of Jesus in 1981, becoming a prayer warrior, spending lunch hours walking and talking to God inside the Old Sanctuary at First UPC on 6th Street during the week, and never missing a Wednesday evening service or services on Sunday. He was ordained as a licensed United Pentecostal Minister in 2014 and to hear him deliver a message was like listening to a great announcer on the radio, painting a picture with impactful thought-provoking words. He and Mother ministered to the senior adults and went to retirement centers to lead Bible Studies.

Harry S. Sommers, Jr., was a good man, a Godly man. A man that never missed one of our games. He taught us how to catch, throw, tackle, and most importantly, how to become men. He taught us life lessons along the way; miss curfew, there were consequences. My brother and I chopped a lot of wood due to those consequences. But he made us better men for it. Duty, honor, and commitment would be a way to describe him. He was devoted to God, Family, and Country. He will be missed by our families, but I know somebody special was waiting for him at the Pearly gates of heaven. Oh, what a reunion that was!

Harry was preceded in death by his mother and father, Alice and Harry Sommers, Sr., his sisters, Patricia and Mary, and the love of his life, Ruth (our mother). He leaves behind his sister Alice and her family, a host of nieces and nephews, two sons Harry III (Trip), his wife Divah, their children: daughter Katie, husband Ryan, children Alice Mae and Henry; son Michael Sommers and wife Monet. He also leaves behind son Bill, wife Belinda and their children: daughter Savannah, husband Justin, children Parker and Charlotte Rose; son Billy, wife Madison, children Tripp, and Caroline Ruth; daughter Sarah, and husband Dalton. He leaves his current wife, Bonnie Abshire Davis Cooley Sommers, and her children and family. The family would like to thank all of his doctors and the staff at Harbor Hospice for their excellent care.

Pallbearers are Trip Sommers, Bill Sommers, Michael Sommers, Billy Sommers, Justin Foreman, Ryan Freeman, Dalton Fontenot, and Rick El-Mogazi.

Look for us Pop, as we will be there too!!

Harry's homecoming celebration will start at Johnson's Funeral Home 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605, Wednesday, October 15th, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., then visitation from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. October 16th, at First Pentecostal Church of Lake Charles, 320 Bunker Road, Lake Charles, LA with services beginning directly after visitation. Pastor Jeffrey Ralston and Pastor Jerod Grissom both of First Pentecostal Church of Lake Charles, along with Pastor Jared Pugh of Moss Bluff Pentecostal Church will officiate.