Mr. John Edward Sutherland Sr.

John E. Sutherland Sr. was born May 17, 1938, in Canton, Mississippi to the union of Johnnie and Mattie Sutherland. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his oldest brother James L Sutherland, younger brother Leon Sutherland, and sister Lillie Mae Rivers.

John attended school through St. Louis Public Schools and graduated from Hadley Technical High School (Vashon High School). He became a member of Central Baptist Church by baptism in 1957 and has served in various ways over the years.

John was united in holy matrimony to Rosemary Buchanan in 1975 and raised four children: Bennie Jackson (fiancée Tricia), John, Christopher (wife Courtney), and Christina (fiancé Orlando). After the two divorced, he married Joyce Townsend.

John was a workhorse and maintained multiple jobs at a time for years to support his family. He retired from General Motors in 2004, where he worked for over 30 years in multiple positions. John loved the Lord and read his Bible regularly. He helped his children build a strong foundation with God and would quote Bible scriptures while explaining their meaning and diving deeper into what was being said.

John was truly loved by his children and touched the lives of many. He was well known for his “Cheshire Cat” smile, that could easily lift one’s spirit just from seeing it. One could easily recognize him in a crowd because he loved his hats, suits, and shoes with taps that can be heard blocks away. He enjoyed listening to contemporary gospel music and watching old western movies in his spare time. He was a caring and compassionate man, who would help others in anyway within his means. He had an infectious laugh and spirit that touched the lives of everyone that he encountered. He was truly a light to our family and a faithful servant of God.

He leaves to cherish in his memory brothers Melvin, and Harvey (wife Tenina), spouses Rosemary and Joyce, his children Bennie, John, Christopher, and Christina, nine grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and acquaintances

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