Linda Sumpter

Linda Maxwell Sumpter was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on April 16th, 1954 to her loving parents Walter and Mary Maxwell. When she was a toddler, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. As a young girl, Linda attended Adaline Gray Elementary School, Herrera Middle School, and Phoenix Union High School. As an adolescent, she was very active and athletic. She often ran a couple of miles every evening with her nieces and nephews daring them to keep up. Linda was also an employee at John Gardeners’ Tennis Resort where she found her love for the sport of tennis. She was an avid fan of tennis. She understood all the nuances of the sport. She could tell you everything about the careers of Zina Garrison, the Williams sisters, all the way up to the new generation of Naomi Osaka.

In the late 70’s early 80’s, Linda was an employee at Motorola as a machine operator. She was a go-getter, a self-determined young woman who was admired by all of the young people in her family for her determination and ambition. As a young woman full of adventure and in a new relationship, Linda moved to Hanau, Germany where she experienced new culture, language, and food that would open her eyes to the world around her. Upon her return to Phoenix, she married Marvin Mask, Sr. From that relationship, she had three children- Marvin Mask, Jr. who preceded her in death in 1971, Noah Mask and Marva Mask.

As a military wife, Linda and her family lived in several different states and even spent a few years back in Germany. They moved back to Phoenix permanently in 1992. Soon after her return, Linda became a small business owner and opened a daycare called “Linda’s Angels” where she loved and cared for many children throughout her 13-year career. She loved supporting all of the young people in her family. No event was too small. You could often hear her voice cheering over everyone else in the crowd enthusiastically rooting on her loved ones.

In 2002, she met the love of her life, Lee Sumpter. They married on November 6th, 2004. Lee and Linda were inseparable. They did everything together. They loved fishing, watching movies, visiting family and friends and also traveling to different events. As the relationship grew, so did the family. They both had a deep passion for their grandchildren. Linda and Lee loved watching their family expand. In the last 13 years, they had 4 new grandchildren. They each found new ways of spoiling them with every chance they got. Lee will truly miss his best friend, loving wife and his “Mommas” as he would affectionately call her.

In 2020, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. After a brave, year-long fight, she was finally called home to the Lord on February 1, 2021.

Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary Maxwell; her eldest son, Marvin Mask, Jr.; her oldest sister Josephine Huntsman; 2 older brothers Walter Maxwell Jr. and Benny Maxwell Sr., and her brother in-law Herbert Fears Sr.

Linda Maxwell Sumpter leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Lee Sumpter; her son Noah Mask; her daughter Marva Mask; her 4 beautiful grandchildren Haon Ming-Mask, Kenyah Cole, Maleeyah Cole, and Ezrah Cole; 7 Maxwell sisters Maxine, Leatrice, Ruby, Marjorie, Stella, Sandra, and Shirley; her sister-in-laws Pat Maxwell and Sharon Maxwell; her brother in-law John Dias; her best friends Dorcus and Peggy; and a host of family and friends. Linda will be missed and never forgotten by her Maxwell family.