[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16726-16727]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EVANGELIST DELLA MAE KING SUTTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2011

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honor 
to the life and legacy of Evangelist Della Mae King Sutton of Nesbit, 
Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, Evangelist Sutton was an indomitable woman of 
God. She devoted her life to empowering those around her with the 
knowledge found both in traditional school settings as well as within 
the Christian church. Born July 20, 1941 in Desoto County, Mississippi, 
Ms. Della was the first born daughter to the late Turner King, Sr. and 
the late Remell Bridgeforth King.
  Ms. Sutton began her educational training at Shiloh M.B. Church in 
Desoto County, Mississippi where her father was the instructor. She 
later attended Hernando High School which culminated at 8th grade. Ms. 
Sutton graduated from Hernando High as class Valedictorian and went on 
to finish her secondary education at Eastern High School in Olive 
Branch, Mississippi. Finishing as Salutatorian of her Eastern High 
class, Ms. Sutton decided to further her education by enrolling in the 
Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It was 
during this time that she met her life companion and husband, Mr. Jesse 
Sutton, Jr. From their union came three beautiful children who were 
raised and reared by the same biblical principles and standards Ms. 
Sutton and her husband had walked their entire lives.
  After completing studies at Mississippi Industrial Ms. Sutton 
continued on to receive her Master's of Science degree from Jackson 
State University.
  Ms. Della Mae believed in supporting efforts which would produce 
nurturing environments which fostered quality learning conditions for 
children. She served as a dedicated educator for more than thirty years 
in several learning facilities throughout Mississippi. Some of them 
included East Side High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi; Oakley 
Training School in Learned, Mississippi; Mendenhall Junior High School 
in Mendenhall, Mississippi and Northside Elementary School in Pearl, 
Mississippi from which she retired.
  Throughout the years, Ms. Sutton has been recognized on several 
occasions for her outstanding works. The most notable was when she was 
recognized by former Governor and First Lady Ronnie Musgrove as one of 
the Most Outstanding Women for the Each One-Reach One Mother of the 
Year contest. She

[[Page 16727]]

served as Chairperson of the Elementary Language Arts and was 
recognized for a host of other social awareness and scholastic 
advancement achievements. Ms. Sutton was also recognized by Who's Who 
Among Teachers, Teacher of the Year and by the Jackson District 
Association's with their Living Legacy Award.
  Ms. Sutton was a civically engaged woman. She was a member of the 
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a member of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a member of ``Keep 
Jackson Beautiful'', an instructor of the Jackson District Ministers' 
Wives/Widows group and passionate supporter of the Mississippi Baptist 
Seminary. She was an active member of the General Missionary Baptist 
Convention and a devote member of the New McRaven Hill Missionary 
Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School teacher, Mother's 
Ministry member, devotional leader for the Mission Society and Vacation 
Bible School teacher.
  This spiritual steward for Christ lived a life of both passion and 
purpose. She was an advocate of education, a champion of civility and a 
true lover of the Lord.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my fellow colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the life and legacy of a true champion, Evangelist Della 
Mae King Sutton.

                          ____________________