Harry C Sutton Sr

Harry C Sutton Sr. (80) was called to rest the morning of September 4, 2022. The loving father, wonderful husband, doting grandfather, Army veteran,musician and trailblazing restauranteur will be missed by all who were blessed to know him.

Harry was born August 10th, 1942, t o Zeb and Ida Pearl Sutton in rural Vaughan, North Carolina. One of nine, Harry farmed tirelessly and lived off the land with his parents and siblings to provide for the family. When not working the fields on the Sabbath, Harry could be found fellowshipping at Ashley Grove Baptist  Church with family. His work ethic and desire to excel fueled his graduation from North Warren High School where he met, who would become the love of his life, the late Diane Sutton who drove the local school bus. After high school, Harry attended Fayetteville State University and performed as a football standout. However, his academic and athletic pursuits were short lived by limited financial resources and an obligation to work the fields again to support family. Subsequently, Harry served in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War era. He was also known as a boxer during his tour in Germany. Harry couldn't get back to the states quick enough to marry his high school sweetheart! Harry and Diane Copeland were married on Christmas Eve 1965.

The loving couple migrated to Orange, New Jersey for a better life and more work opportunities where they settled and had three sons, Harry Jr, Jason and Chad. The couples rural work ethic, talent, experiences and additional three mouths to feed set the stage for entrepreneurship, ultimately resulting in the establishment of the world famous and local favorite Je's Restaurant located in Newark, New Jersey. For over 40 years Je's served up tasty food to politicians, dignitaries, celebrities, and everyday people alike. The culmination of Diane's untimely transition in 2000 as Je's 78 visionary and spiritual matriarch, coupled with the demand in restaurant business eventually led to a desire for a new chapter.

One of Harry's new chapter's was to spend more time playing blues and country music on his harmonica. A self

taught musician and singer, Harry often hosted jam sessions and played in small clubs in New York City and New Jersey. The one thing that he loved more than playing music was family, especially his granddaughter Naomi which was no secret. Harry successfully accomplishedhis last chapter by spending cherished moments and  quality time with family.

Gone too soon, but a life well lived.

Harry was predeceased by his wife(Diane), his parents (Zeb and Ida Peart), six brothers( Bobby, James, Clemon, Milton, Kenny and Palmer), and one sister( Mattie). Those left to cherish his memory are: his three sons ( Harry Jr of New York City), ( Jason of Orange.New Jersey) and ( Chad of Greensboro, North Carolina), his Granddaughter (Naomi of Atlanta, Georgia), Two brothers, (Stewart Sutton of Providence, Rhode Island), and ( Steve Sutton and his wife Elizabeth Sutton of Durham, North Carolina), One brother-in-law( Ronnie Copeland of Youngstown, Ohio), Three sisters-in-law, (Verlene Dillon of Roanoke, Virginia), ( Jean Harris of Raleigh, North Carolina) and (Ann Smith of Raleigh, North Carolina) and host of nieces, nephews and dear friends.

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