Ann Wheat Sutherlin

Ann Wheat Sutherlin, 82, of Greenville, died December 4, 2011. A native of Lonoke, Arkansas, Mrs. Sutherlin was the daughter of the late Thomas Walton Wheat and Ruby Lois Wright Wheat. She attended Ouachita Baptist College in Arkansas, where she met her future husband, Edward E. Sutherlin. She and her husband Ed, along with their two daughters, lived for a considerable time in Crossett, Arkansas and later moved to Marshall, Missouri. She was a longtime resident of Greenville, having moved here in 1979 with her husband and two granddaughters she and her husband helped raise. She was a retired piano teacher and enjoyed being involved in community and political initiatives. Mrs. Sutherlin had a deep love for children and their nurture and used her passion to help local school children during the 16 years she spent serving on the Board of Trustees of Greenville County Schools. Her tireless efforts on the school board were student focused and emphasized the importance of fiscally responsible administration and academic readiness in students. Mrs. Sutherlin was instrumental in helping establish the Fine Arts Center at Wade Hampton High School and led efforts to remediate asbestos and establish much-needed air conditioning in a number of local schools. Mrs. Sutherlin's first love was piano, in which she showed great prowess and continued to enjoy throughout her life. She was also fond of literature and writing. At a very early age, she became fascinated with words and the process of putting them together. Unlike many, she actually liked the writing process and came to author several books. She was meticulous in her work, and for her published novel, The Fourth Son, she spent such considerable time researching and editing that she likened it to "doing your own surgery." Many Greenville News readers may remember her insightful letters to the editor in which she spoke about those subjects most passionate to her. For years, Mrs. Sutherlin shared a lively correspondence with the late author and columnist James Kilpatrick, who shared with her a fondness for politics, law, social conservatism, Twain, Mencken, gardening, and bridge. They also shared what she called a "slightly warped sense of humor." Mrs. Sutherlin was an avid football fan, a talented bridge player, and crossword puzzle aficionado. She thought highly of her bridge club friends and her colleagues in the education arena and was respected by many for her intellect, quick wit, and elegance. It was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, though, that she considered her greatest accomplishment. Mrs. Sutherlin was predeceased by her parents; husband; sister, Mary Lois Tharp; and brother, Thomas Walton Wheat, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Kerry Sutherlin (Gene) Spitzer of Greenville and Lynn Sutherlin Evans of Moscow Mills, Missouri; grandchildren, Troy (Michelle) Kuhn of Penryn, California, Stacey Ross (Stephen) Gardner of Blythewood, Christopher E. (Faris) Feuers of Bluffton, Lee Anne Sutherlin Townes of Greenville, Courtney Feuers (David) Mann of Greenville, and Sean P. (Chrissi) Evans of Moscow Mills, Missouri; brother, Jack (Vada Carole) Wheat of Lonoke, Arkansas; sister-in-law Sue Wheat of Monument, Colorado; and 12 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the Mackey Mortuary at 311 Century Drive in Greenville from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2011. A private memorial service will be held in Arkansas in the spring with interment at the Lonoke Cemetery. Memorials in Mrs. Sutherlin's name may be made to the Fine Arts Center, 102 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, S.C. 29609 or to media centers in Greenville County schools (Greenville County Schools, c/o Jeff Knotts, P.O. Box 2848, Greenville, S.C. 29602). Online condolences may be made at www.mackeymortuary.com.