Malinda Sutton

Malinda Franklin Sutton, age 104, of Northport, Alabama, passed away August 26, 2024 at Heritage Health Care. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at Jennings Chapel Methodist Church with Pastor Judy Shepherd officiating and music by Robin Hinton Ragland. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery with Magnolia Chapel North directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Noble Franklin and Marna Syler Franklin; her husband of 60 years, Oliver Harwood Sutton, Sr.; twin sister, Melissa Franklin Jones; sister, Montie Franklin Krenik; daughter-in-law, Sarah Palmer Sutton; and son-in-law, W.K. “Andy” Anderson. 

Survivors include children, Emily Sutton Anderson, Oliver Sutton, Jr. (Leah), Henry Sutton (Sandy), Dan Sutton (Kathy) and Mary Jean Sutton; grandchildren, Amy Anderson Wiles, Angie Anderson, Audrey Anderson Dickey (Lee), Brad Sutton (Kelly), Chris Sutton (Shivani), Isaac Sutton(Miranda), Brant Harper (Karen), and Sam Harper (Samantha); great-grandchildren, Missy Schaefers (Paul), Nicole Bell (James), Amanda Anderton, Tyler Dickey, Owen Dickey (Maddie), Addison, Brodie and Braden Sutton, Anjali and Kavi Sutton, Eleanor Sutton, Tatum and Maddux Harper, and Brantley Harper; and four great-great-grandchildren; nephews, Meador Jones, Cedric Jones, Guy Krenik, Doug Sutton; niece, Mary Ann McMurray; as well as many others. 

Malinda Franklin Sutton was born to John and Marna Franklin, descendants of Germans who settled in Tennessee. She and her identical twin sister, Melissa, were welcomed by an older sister, Montie, in the coal-mining town of Coleanor, Alabama which no longer exists. Their father worked for the railroad as a station manager and telegrapher which caused them to move often. After graduating from high school in Uniontown, Ala., the twins attended the University of Alabama for a year. A handprints study was done, proving like fingerprints, no two people had the same. However, Malinda and Melissa had identical handprints, just the opposite of each other. 

At the end of their freshman year, World War II started; and Malinda went to Washington, DC to work. She met Oliver Sutton, USN, they married, and she became a military wife. They had 5 children, all born in different places. When Oliver retired from the Navy, they moved back to Flatwoods (Northport), where he was from, and finished raising their family. Malinda became passionate about flower arranging, which led to her being a trained judge for flower shows all over Alabama. She participated in many beautification and restoration projects in the area. She enjoyed growing flowers, arranging them, and teaching others the art of flower arrangement. She was a founding member of the Tuscaloosa/Northport Garden Club and the Ikebana Club for Japanese Flower Arranging. She enjoyed assisting with the annual Sakura Festival. She held every office in both clubs. She also loved to cook, paint, crochet, sew and do various other crafts.

Oliver and Malinda became avid campers, traveling all over the country with their Airstream friends. When Oliver retired from BF Goodrich, they embarked on longer trips and spent many winters in Key West, making friends along the way.

Malinda and Oliver were active members of Jennings Chapel Methodist Church. She was a founding member of the JCMC Cemetery Association, where she served as treasurer for over 50 years. She was active in the Naval Fleet Reserve Auxiliary, served as a Cub Scout den mother, a band mother and PTA volunteer. Providing a loving, caring and healthy home for her family was her priority.

At the age of 60, Malinda donated a kidney to Melissa, as they were a perfect match and the oldest donors at that time. Melissa fought a tough battle but was not able to beat the disease. Malinda missed her greatly and referred to her as “the better half of me.” Malinda had a strong love for people, and never allowed visitors to leave empty handed. Her cookie jar was always filled with the best chocolate chip cookies, which she shared freely for people to enjoy. 

Honorary pallbearers are Willard and Betty Christian and family, Peggy Camp, Avi and Preeti Nichani and girls, Jo Francis and Windy Strickland, Alan Harper, Renae and JulieAnna Paris, Linda Stephens, Jane Pearson, Margie Lowry, Mary Jennings, Kenji and Mari Namiwa (Japan), Nick and Pam Drummond, Heather Green, Dorothy Benson, friends of Jennings Chapel Methodist Church, Tuscaloosa/ Northport Garden Club, the Faculty and Staff of Flatwoods Elementary, Staff of Heritage Rehab and Nursing Facility, especially Takila Adair, Henrietta Hill, Maria Hardy, Adena Moore, Danielle Garrett, special friends at Heritage including Judy Roblyer, Carol Oswalt and Dee Pinkleton. They made her stay safe, fun, and filled with laughter. 

Memorial donations may be made to Jennings Chapel Methodist Church, Hospice of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa/Northport Garden Club or where a donor chooses.