James Freeman Suttle III

Published 9:39 pm Monday, September 18, 2017

James Freeman Suttle III, age 84, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

He was born in Selma on Sept. 15, 1933, the son of Mary Fuller Suttle and James Freeman Suttle Jr.

He attended Suttle schools and graduated from Albert G. Parrish High School. After attending Marion Military Institute for one year, he transferred to the University of Alabama, where he earned a B.S. in business administration. While at the University, he was a squadron commander in the ROTC program and a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Freeman worked for the J.F. Suttle Company for over 50 years and served as president for the last 20. He served in the U.S. Air Force, where he earned the rank of colonel and was on the state staff headquarters of the Alabama National Guard as intelligence officer.

Freeman attended the following Air Force schools: Squadron Officer School, Command and Staff College and Air War College.

Freeman was past president of the Kiwanis Club, chairman of the board of Supervisors of the Perry County Soil and Water Conservation, on the board of Regions Bank and a member of the Knights of Revelry. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry for a number of years, including terms as secretary and treasurer as well as senior warden.

Mr. Suttle was predeceased by his daughter, Mary Harriet; and his sister, Virginia Mallory (Hugh).

He is survived by his wife, Harriet; his sister, Mary Payne (Stanley); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held at St. Paul’s on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, at 11 a.m. with visitation in the Lower Hall at 10:30 a.m. A private burial for family members will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home directing. Pallbearers will be Dr. Louis Allison, Dr. Clyde Cox, Jr., Dr. P. Caldwell DeBardeleben, George Jones, Dr. Richard Stewart and Wayne Stinson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 210 Lauderdale St., Selma, Alabama, 36701.