Grace Casper Sutton, affectionately known as “Amazing Grace”, passed away peacefully Friday evening, September 24, 2021 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center at the age of 90. She was born August 11, 1931 at home in Lenoir County, the only child of the late James (Jim) Calvin and Mamie Quinn Casper. Grace was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Grace attended Duplin and Lenoir County Schools, graduating from Deep Run High School Class of 1949. Grace was employed by Carolina Telephone and Telegraph as a Switchboard Operator, later moving to the business office which she continued until the office was closed and she retired. Grace was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church and enjoyed working in the preschool Sunday school classes in her younger years.
She continued her love and support of the church, working on the bereavement committee and Wednesday night kitchen crew. Grace was an involved member of the Eastern Star, holding several offices, including becoming Worthy Matron in 1995. Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Al Jennings Sutton; surviving are her daughters, Sonya Nowak and husband, John, of Charlotte, and Jennifer Blackmon and partner, Doug Powell, of Kinston; son, Al Sutton Jr. and wife, Patrice, of Cary, NC; grandchildren, James (Jim) Sutton of Denver, CO., Sarah S. Illes and husband, Gabe, of Mebane, NC, Megan Sutton of Raleigh, NC, Chris Nowak of Charlotte, Lindsay Nowak of Wellesley, MA, Ashton Blackmon and wife, Shelby, of Atlantic Beach, NC, and Memoree Blackmon of Raleigh, NC, and great-grandchildren, Gabriel John Illes IV and Huxley Miles Blackmon.
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Howard-Carter Funeral Home, 1608 W. Vernon Ave. Kinston, NC. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, 4488 W. Vernon Ave. Kinston, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 2600 Rouse Rd. Kinston, NC 28504 or Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Ct., Goldsboro, NC 27534.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all of her very special private care givers; Lynette, Renee, Barbara, Ann, Clementine and Cynthia, and the caring staff at Heritage Elite Senior Retirement Center, with special thanks to Nikki and Tonya for their attention, compassion and professionalism. They would also like to thank Dr. Atassi and his staff at Eastern Nephrology in Kinston.
