Bertha Christine Sutton

Bertha Christine Bryson Sutton, 77, died Thursday June 26 in Raleigh after a long illness. Chris was born May 5, 1937 in Jackson County, NC, and graduated from Western Carolina College. She was employed by the Wake County Dept. of Human Services in the Child Support Enforcement program from 1974 until her retirement in 2005, including a long tenure as director of child support enforcement. She was a committed advocate for child support statewide and nationally, and served as an officer of the NC Child Support Council. She also served on legislative committees lobbying on behalf of child support, and was universally respected by judges, legislators and colleagues. After retirement, her joys included gardening, cooking and spending time with her family, especially her five grandchildren, who loved their Mimi so much. Chris was preceded in death by her husband, William Oliver Sutton. She is survived by her sons, Douglas Sutton of Chapel Hill and Michael Sutton of Cary; sister Bessie Jones and husband Carl of Clyde, NC; sister Joyce Cloer of Sylva, NC; brother Henry Bryson and wife Jeanne of Sylva; and grandchildren Justin, Connor, Anna, Corey and Alyssa Sutton. Through the years, she was greatly comforted by her beloved nephew Jeffrey Gray of Raleigh; her Wellington Lane neighbors Gene and Terry Berry, and Ron and Nancy Stevens; and her longtime friend Nancy Dixon of Cary. A service of celebration and remembrance will be held at Appalachian Funeral Services in Sylva, NC at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 29 with the Rev. Earl Holden officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Keener Cemetery in Sylva. In addition, a memorial service will be held in the near future at First United Methodist Church in Cary, where Chris was a member. . .