Berrien Loyd Sutton

Berrien Loyd Sutton of Homerville, GA., died on November 25, 2022, survived by his wife, Lisa Jordan Sutton; his son, Berrien “Berry” William Sutton (Cindy) of North Captiva, FL; his daughter, April Marie Sutton (Nick Moreno) of San Diego, CA; his step-daughters, Jennifer “Jenny” Blonk (Jon Blonk) of Roxbury, NY and Amy Faulkenberry (Brian Faulkenberry) of Greenville, SC; grandchildren Isabella Sutton, Gabriella Sutton, and Marigold Sutton-Moreno; step-grandchildren Emmeline Carter, Hughes Carter, Sam Faulkenberry, and Olivia “Ollie” Faulkenberry; sisters Francine Fender of Pearson, GA, Harriet Youngblood of Millwood, GA, and Karen Sutton of Fernandina Beach, FL; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces,  great nephews, and other relatives.

Berrien was born on July 24, 1949, in Coffee County, Ga., to Bernice Jason Sutton and Ona Mae Herrin Sutton. His parents preceded him in death, as did his brother, Frankie Lee Sutton. He attended primary and secondary schools in Atkinson County, graduating in 1967, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga.

Always a scholar, Berrien earned a juris doctorate from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1975 and returned to South Georgia, where he practiced law for 47 years in a career distinguished by luminous court victories and more than a decade on the bench, including serving as Clinch County State Court Judge and Alapaha Circuit Juvenile Court Judge. He is remembered as a brilliant advocate for his clients, a compassionate and fair judge to those who came before him, and a generous mentor to the younger attorneys he trained and guided.

A Christian before anything else, Berrien dedicated his life to his church and, at his death, had been serving for more than 25 years as Worship Leader at Trinity Baptist Church.

Berrien was called by his Lord on a Friday evening in the fall, and so he was, at the time, on a high school football field preparing to live stream the night’s game for CreekBox, the media network he launched in 2015 to join his passion for broadcasting with his lifelong dedication to Christ.   

A church service to celebrate his life and passing into Heaven will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Homerville, Ga., on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Axson, GA.

The family will receive friends beginning at 10 am Tuesday at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, Berrien would have wanted donations to Sow Generously, the charity he formed to provide opportunities for rural children and youth, which can be found online at www.sowgenerously.org.

Sympathy may be expressed online at www.roundtreefuneralhome.net.

Roundtree Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.