May 12, 92,
Cleo Loyde Sutton, 92, completed his journey home on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 to the welcoming words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Cleo was born in Sampson County on July 16, 1927 to the late Thomas Loyde Sutton and Lela Gertrude Sutton. He proudly served his country in Japan with the United States Army. Cleo was a graduate of Goldsboro High School and had attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He retired from G.P. Ignition Company which was a Division of Gulf Western. After his successful career with G.P. Ignition, Cleo continued to work as the Human Resources Director for Sunburst Foods in Goldsboro, a position he held for over 16 years. Cleo enjoyed serving others so in his later years he was given the opportunity to work part-time with Alan Sutton Jewelry. He also formed many friendships as a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club.
Cleo lived a life of dedication to his family and friends, and to his community. He was a member of The First Pentecostal Holiness Church. Cleo was an unusually fine man. He was adored by his family, for whom he was a source of joy and strength, but also by countless others, from old friends to new acquaintances, all of whom were struck by his quiet generosity, his kind and unassuming intelligence, and his innate courteousness. Cleo will be missed.
A service to celebrate Cleo’s life will be held for family and close friends at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2020 at Wayne Memorial Park with Pastor Bill Rose and Pastor Jimmy Whitfield officiating. The family will greet friends immediately following the service at the cemetery.
Cleo is survived by his wife, Louise Edwards Sutton; brother, Denny Sutton and wife Linda of Goldsboro; daughter-in-law, Francis Sutton and her son Austin; and several nieces and nephews he loved very much. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Lorraine Sutton and Ann Sutton.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lee Phipps Sutton; son, Steve Sutton; brothers, Vayden Sutton and T.O. Sutton; and sisters, Mamie Ruth Burnette, Carolyn Price and Evelyn Deyo.
Special thanks to Cleo’s wonderful neighbors and church family who cared for him and his family in so many kind and thoughtful ways and during this time of loss. We would like to also give a very special thank you to the wonderful staff at Community Home Care and Hospice for the love and care they provided for Cleo during his final days. Simple words cannot express our gratitude. Also a thank you to his caregiver, Mary Jo Dudley who cared for Cleo over these past few months.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Senior Ministry Fund at The First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1100 The First Church Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
