Obituary of Dot Sutton

Dorothy Brigman Sutton

The daughter of farmers she was born near Rowland, NC October 30, 1931.  

As a teenager she was well known locally for singing in the church and her interest in music.   She was often asked to sing for funerals and since her family didn’t own a car people would drive out from town to pick her up and bring her back.

After graduation from Rowland High School she attended Meredith College which at the time was still an all-women’s school.   While at Meredith, Dot enjoyed singing in the Meredith Choir as well as being a paid soloist and singer at the First Baptist Church of Raleigh.

As graduation from Meredith neared she began looking for a job as a public school music teacher.  One of her interviews was with Mr. EM Yoder who convinced her that Mebane was the right place.   Upon graduation she moved into the Teacherage in Mebane where she made lifelong friendships with other new teachers and eventually met her future husband, Bill Sutton. 

She taught in the public schools of Alamance County until her retirement.  Her career as a teacher was distinguished by her time at Eastern High School where she was the director of the choral program.  She directed Choral groups and produced many musicals and variety shows.  She built a program that became well known for its excellence.  Her choirs consistently earned Superior Ratings in state competitions as well has earning First Place in National competitions.  Her program introduced travel as part of the musical curriculum and with help from her husband Bill, she led students on annual trips around the world, an opportunity that many of her students may not have had otherwise.  The trips included performances at venues from Carnegie Hall in New York City to the Cathedrals of Europe and the American Embassy in Paris, France.

In addition to her teaching work she also was Director of Music at the First Baptist Church of Mebane as well as Interim Director of Music at several other local churches.

When retired she was instrumental in the resurrection of the Mebane Community Choir in its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, (directing the choir herself in the beginning years.)

Her last Choir work, at 85, was directing the Twin Lakes Community Choir in Burlington; an assignment which she loved as she worked with other people in retirement to continue developing their love for voice and music.

Her greatest role was as matriarch to her family.  She was a loving and supportive wife to Bill Sutton Sr, and mother to Bill Jr, Bob, Betsy and Ann, mother in-law to Kim, Janie and Craig and grandmother to Katherine, Rebecca and Alexandra.  We will always remember the laughter and love of a happy home.  Dot Sutton will be remembered for her zest for life and the love she had for others.  Thank you God for the Blessing of Dot Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Mebane Community Choir c/o Mebane Presbyterian Church, 402 South Fifth Street Mebane, NC 27302 or the Meredith College Class of 1953 Scholarship Fund c/o Erin Cleghorn Director, The Meredith Fund 919-760-8060

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Wednesday February 6, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Mebane, located at 301 S Third Street.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday February 5, 2019 at Walker's Funeral Home and Crematory of Mebane, located at 304 W. Center Street.

Online guest register available at www.walkersfuneralhomemebane.com

Walker's Funeral Home and Crematory of Mebane is handling the arrangements for Mrs. Dot B. Sutton