Sgt. 1st Class Billy A. Sutton
MOOREVILLE – Sgt. 1st Class Billy Albert “Bill” Sutton, 42, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in Afghanistan while actively serving his country in the U. S. Army National Guard. Sgt. Sutton was born in Milton, Fla., on June 8, l969, to Jerry Lee Sutton and Jo Ann Owens Sutton Starling. He grew up in the Baldwyn area and graduated from Baldwyn High School in 1987. He earned an associate’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College and served four years with the U. S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division. By trade, he was an electrical technician and was last employed by Flexible Foam.
Sgt. Sutton continued his patriotic devotion to the service of his nation by joining the Mississippi National Guard on Sept. 5, 2002. At the time of his death, he was fulfilling his third tour of duty, the first two in Iraq and the final tour in Afghanistan. Sgt. Sutton was a platoon leader with the 288th Sapper Company out of Houston. A patriotic American, he was a respected and courageous military leader who always put his men before himself.
In civilian life, he was an avid duck hunter and raised and trained labs for duck hunting. He cherished his special dog of long standing, Jack. He was a music lover and a fan of all things Elvis. He was a master sharpshooter and treasured his many guns. He was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church near Baldwyn. A grateful nation expresses gratitude for his selfless service and joins his family in mourning his death.
A life celebration, with full military honors, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Mississippi Adjutant General Leon Collins and Mississippi Baptist Convention president, Dr. David Hamilton, officiating. Entombment will be in the Hope Mausoleum at Lee Memorial Park in Verona. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to have been entrusted with arrangements.
His loving family includes his wife, Traci Durham Sutton of Mooreville, whom he married Nov. 6, 1998; his son, Tyler Durham of the home; his mother, Jo Ann Owen Sutton Starling (Elvis) of Baldwyn; his in-laws, Dan and Jennifer Loden Durham of Tupelo; his grandfather in law, Homer Loden of Tupelo; a brother, Danny Sutton of Milton, Fla.; two half brothers, Vance Sutton of St. Amant, La., and Aaron Starling of Corinth; three half sisters, Adrian Starling of Baldwyn, Erica Culver of Odenville, Ala., and Cindy Starling of Baldwyn.
Pallbearers will be members of the Honor Guard from the Mississippi Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be the 288th Sapper Company members still serving in Afghanistan.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors and from 10 a.m. to service time on Saturday.
Memorials may be made to the Tupelo Veterans Park, P.O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS 38803; or to Pets for Patriots, 218 E. Park Ave., Suite 543, Long Beach, NY. 11561.
Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
Read more: djournal.com - Obituaries February 16 2012
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