Thelma Christine Montgomery Sutton, 81, of Nashville died peacefully on Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Coliseum Medical Center in Macon. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2013, at Nashville Church of God. Rev. John Thomas will officiate with burial to follow in Westview Cemetery in Nashville. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers and two of her granddaughters, Alyson Ireland and Cassie Sutton will sing. Brenda Rose, Mrs. Sutton’s daughter, will read the poem she wrote in memory of her mother, “Stains”. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 14, 2013, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Friends and family will gather at the home of Brenda and Richard Rose, 2610 Emory Drive in Tifton. Mrs. Sutton will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Sutton was born on May 5, 1932 in Tift County and was the daughter of Earnest Miles Montgomery and Lillian Stella Storey Montgomery, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lewis Sutton, who died in 1988; her beloved youngest son, Joel Devane Sutton, who died in 2010; two brothers; and one sister. She leaves behind a dear friend, Elois Embry Bothe of Macon.
In 1950, at the age of eighteen, Thelma Montgomery was working at Whiddon Mill Grocery and Grist Mill, when a handsome stranger sauntered into the store. While paying for a handful of purchases, he told the dark-haired girl, “I dreamed about you last night”. Robert Sutton laughed softly and said, “And I’m going to marry you”. Weeks later, they eloped. Robert and Thelma Sutton went on to raise seven children, their most treasured possessions.
In later years, Mrs. Sutton said, “I guess you could say he swept me off my feet”.
Mrs. Sutton is survived by her children and their spouses, Terryl Sutton of Tifton, Carlton and Rhonda Sutton of Macon, Debra and Terrell Cowart of Tifton, Darius Sutton of Nashville, Debbie Sutton of Nashville, Lynn and Phil Romanus of Peoria, Illinois and Brenda and Richard Rose of Tifton; grandchildren and their spouses, Meagan Sutton, Madison Sutton, Travis and LaDonna Sutton, Angi and Travis Spiers, Toni and Brad Phillips, Traci Ward, Amy and Spencer Hawkins, Ashley and Brittani Sutton, April Sutton, Carli Sutton, Caylee Ann Sutton, Cassie Sutton, Nick Romanus, Jacob Romanus, Eric Romanus, Jacy Romanus, Alyson Ireland and Patrick Ireland. Her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great granddaughter held a special place in her heart. Mrs. Sutton cherished her brothers and sisters, Wallace Montgomery, Wanda Rowell, Claudette Smith, Steve “Monte” Montgomery and Mark Montgomery.
As Mrs. Sutton’s health failed, she often spoke of how she had been blessed in her life. She said all that mattered in the end was love.
The family would like to thank Dr. Charlie Snow of Macon, who lovingly cared for Mrs. Sutton during her final weeks of life and offered comfort, along with expert medical treatment. Elois Embry Bothe gave everything, yet doubted she had given enough.