Dr. Edgar N. (Eddie) Sutton

Dr. Edgar N. (Eddie) Sutton, age 89, of Alexander, peacefully went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, with his loving children by his side.

He was born on July 13, 1934, in Little Rock, the son of the late Jay Christopher Sutton and Clydia A. Diehl Sutton.  He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Martha Jean Quattlebaum and Dorothy Lee Lybrand.

A graduate of Mabelvale High School, Eddie surrendered to the gospel ministry on June 13, 1952, and continued to serve in the ministry for over 70 years.  From the time of his ordination by First Missionary Baptist Church of Mabelvale on December 13, 1953, he was active in associational work on the local, state, and national levels.  A graduate in Bible Language of the Missionary Baptist Seminary, Bro. Eddie served as moderator of the Spring River and Fayetteville Associations on a local level and also served for several years as publicity director of the Saline Association.  On the state level he served as clerk, assistant moderator, and moderator of the Arkansas State Association.  In addition to serving as the treasurer of the Arkansas State Association, Bro. Eddie served as promotional director for the Arkansas State Mission Project. 

Having served for 30 years as clerk of the American Baptist Association missionary committee, Bro. Eddie also served for 35 years as Director of Meeting Arrangements until he retired in 2021, handing these duties over to his son, Neal, to continue to follow in his faithful footsteps.  Upon his resignation, he was elected as Director of Meeting Arrangements Emeritus for the American Baptist Association.  For many years, he served as executive secretary of the National ABA Youth Camp in Bogg Springs, Arkansas. From 1953 until 1985, Bro. Eddie faithfully served his Lord and Savior as senior pastor of several churches within the American Baptist Association. 

Bro. Eddie had the privilege of directing numerous trips to Hawaii, Mexico, and Europe, including leading 34 tours to the Holy Land, two tours to “Footsteps of Paul” in Greece and Turkey, and traveling to several other areas of the world.  For over 30 years Bro. Eddie was an active member of the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), where he served in many capacities, including the Board of Directors and on February 6, 2014, was presented with the prestigious “Presidents Award”.

In addition to his church and associational work, Bro. Eddie was very active in civic affairs in the communities where he had pastored having served, just to name a few, as President of the Malvern Rotary Club and chairman of the Hot Spring County March of Dimes.

Above all of Bro. Eddie’s many accomplishments in his work of the ministry of the Lord, his greatest role was that as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He was a wonderful and loving Daddy, Paw-Paw, brother and friend, who loved his family with all of his heart and will be missed so very deeply by all who had the joy and privilege of having him in their lives.

He is survived by his adoring children, Neal and Debby Sutton of Texarkana, Texas and Deborah and Richard Hudgins of Glenwood; his six precious grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda and Chris Rogers, Marcus and Jessie Hudgins, Christopher and Kristen Douglas, Jay and Kim Sutton, Kevin and Anna Sutton and Haley and Jeremy Chambers; his thirteen cherished great-grandchildren, Logan, Claire, Makina, Jaxon, Bryson, Ashtyn, Briar, Reid, Ty, Bo-Mack, Benjamin, Karson, and another precious baby boy on the way; his sister and brother-in-law, Brenda and Bill Wall; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of wonderful life-long friends.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in the Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Terry Parrish, Dr. Mark Harris, Dr. Neal Clark and Dr. Randy Cloud officiating.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM, prior to the services at the church.

Interment will be in the Forest Hills Cemetery, Alexander, under the direction of Smith Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street, Benton, AR 72015.

Pallbearers will be Jay Sutton, Kevin Sutton, Marcus Hudgins, Chris Rogers, Jeremy Chambers and Bobby Stone.

Honorary pallbearers will be the nurses, entire staff and residents of The Manor-Benton, for all their wonderful and loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Bro. Eddie to the Dr. Edgar N. (Eddie) Sutton Scholarship Fund, Missionary Baptist Seminary, 5224 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, AR 72204 or to the Spring Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 19200 I-30 Frontage Road, Benton, AR 72019.

Services entrusted to Smith Benton Funeral Home.  Online guestbook; www.smithfamilycares.com.