Ella Delores Sutton

Ella Delores Sutton, 80, affectionately known as “Lois”, peacefully passed away on April 20, 2024 in the care of Valley Manor, Coopersburg, PA. Lois was born to the late Walter and Louvenia (Barrington) Sutton in Elizabeth City, NC, on December 8, 1943. She was educated in the Pasquotank County public schools. After graduating from P. W. Moore High School in 1961, she received a bachelor's degree in 1965 from Elizabeth City Teachers College (Elizabeth City State University), as well as a master of education in 1973 from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

Lois's impact on the educational field was profound. She attained certifications in North Carolina in reading and elementary education. As a Program Director, she developed early learning programs and policies during her tenure at the Education Academy in Durham, NC. She supervised and trained parents and volunteers, and consulted with an interdisciplinary team as a reading specialist in Hampton, VA.

In the regular education field, she taught at all grade levels. She engaged primary populations with field trips, projects, and learning activities tailored to meet the needs of gifted, regular, and special education students. Even though her expertise was in elementary education, early employment involved teaching remedial reading and social studies to junior high school students. She also served as a grant reader/evaluator for the Department of Education in Washington, DC. 

At the collegiate level, Lois held the position of university instructor teaching English at St. Augustine College in Raleigh and spearheaded reading education programs for college-level learners at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Administration and Supervision were her focus of post-graduate studies at the University of North Carolina. During her retirement, she volunteered in the Pasquotank County Elementary Schools in Elizabeth City.

Lois's dedication to education was a family legacy, inspiring many of her relatives to pursue teaching paths of their own. In addition to her passion for teaching, Lois had a profound love of nature and enjoyed cooking southern food.  

Lois’s memory is treasured by her daughter, Leta Thomas of Elizabeth City, NC; her dear siblings, Annie Sutton Nixon, Hilda Sutton Gibson (Jimmie), of Elizabeth City, NC, Janice Sutton Burgess (Sam) of Bethlehem, PA; and brother Isaac Sutton (Pearl) of Elizabeth City, NC; as well as close-knit family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 11:00 am. at St. Paul Baptist Church, 925 E. Goepp Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, Bethlehem, PA. A memory tribute may be placed at www.cantelmifuneralhome.com

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