G J Sutton
Encyclopedia
Garlington Jerome “G. J.” Sutton (June 22, 1909 - June 22, 1976) was the first black official elected from San Antonio, Texas
, United States.
(owner of Apollo Theater
in New York City and attorney for Nation of Islam
leader Malcolm X
) and Oliver Sutton (judge on the New York Supreme Court
).
Sutton attended Wiley College
in Marshall, Texas
, but earned his bachelor of science
degree from Wilberforce University
in 1932. He later gain a degree in mortuary science from Cincinnati College.
He married Ms. Jeffrey Plummer and had one daughter who they named Jeffrey Dean Sutton. He later married Lou Nelle Sutton
in 1958 with whom he remained with until his death. GJ is survived by his daughter Jeffrey Dean Sutton who married Army Lt. Col. Stonell B. Greene and had three daughters: Jerilan Denise Greene, Janiece Birnell Greene and Jeffrey Lynette Greene.
. When the Texas House of Representatives
redrew their districts in 1972, Sutton became the first black official elected in San Antonio. He served in that capacity until his death on his birthday in 1976. With the encouragement of his best friend Rev. Claude Black
, his wife Lou Nelle Sutton would run and succeed her husband in the Texas House of Representatives.
There is a Federal
building named in his honor, which is located in San Antonio.It is locate at the out skirts of downtown at 321. N.Center St.It has become an office building for Health and Human Service Commission(HHSC).
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States.
Early life and marriage
G. J. Sutton was the eighth of fifteen children. His parents Samuel and Lillian were both educators with his father being one of the first black in Bexar County. He also served as principal of three high schools. All of his siblings graduated from college. His brothers included Percy SuttonPercy Sutton
Percy Ellis Sutton was a prominent black American political and business leader. A civil-rights activist and lawyer, he was also a Freedom Rider and the legal representative for Malcolm X...
(owner of Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in New York City and attorney for Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
leader Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
) and Oliver Sutton (judge on the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
).
Sutton attended Wiley College
Wiley College
Wiley College is a four-year, private, historically black, liberal arts college located on the west side of Marshall, Texas. Founded in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Bishop Isaac Wiley and certified in 1882 by the Freedman's Aid Society, it is notable as one of the oldest predominantly...
in Marshall, Texas
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
, but earned his bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
in 1932. He later gain a degree in mortuary science from Cincinnati College.
He married Ms. Jeffrey Plummer and had one daughter who they named Jeffrey Dean Sutton. He later married Lou Nelle Sutton
Lou Nelle Sutton
Lou Nelle Sutton was a businesswoman and former state representative from San Antonio, Texas.Born Lou Nelle Callahan, she married Garlington “G. J.” Sutton in 1958. Together they would raise his daughter Jeffrey Dean Sutton....
in 1958 with whom he remained with until his death. GJ is survived by his daughter Jeffrey Dean Sutton who married Army Lt. Col. Stonell B. Greene and had three daughters: Jerilan Denise Greene, Janiece Birnell Greene and Jeffrey Lynette Greene.
Business
In 1938, Mr. Sutton joined his brother to operate Sutton and Sutton Mortuary. The mortuary is still in business today. He also founded Gates of Heaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery in San Antonio. He is buried alongside his wife at that cemetery in the family plot.he is the men toPolitics
Sutton served as a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention1960 Democratic National Convention
The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles. In the end, the Kennedy-Johnson ticket was assembled and went on to secure an electoral college victory and a narrow popular vote plurality in the fall over the Republican candidates Richard M...
. When the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
redrew their districts in 1972, Sutton became the first black official elected in San Antonio. He served in that capacity until his death on his birthday in 1976. With the encouragement of his best friend Rev. Claude Black
Claude Black
Claude William Black, Jr. was an American Baptist minister and political figure. He was born the son of local Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters vice president Claude, Sr...
, his wife Lou Nelle Sutton would run and succeed her husband in the Texas House of Representatives.
There is a Federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
building named in his honor, which is located in San Antonio.It is locate at the out skirts of downtown at 321. N.Center St.It has become an office building for Health and Human Service Commission(HHSC).