Starling Thomas Sutton, 77, died on May 16, 2023, at Southeast Georgia Health System after a complicated, much-needed surgery from which he didn't recover. He was born and raised in Atlanta as part of a large, blended family.

Starling is survived by his wife, Beth Little Sutton; his daughters, Donna Sutton (Lucas Rodriguez), Lyn Leiferman and Sarabeth Sutton; his grandchildren, Sydney Leifermann, Spenser Leifermann and Isaac Rodriguez; his sister, Dayle Sutton Fowler (T.A.); his brothers, Charles Sutton (Cathy) and Paul Sutton (Lynn), and his first wife, Carol Surrency. He is predeceased by his parents, Starling Thomas Sutton, Sr. and Sara Kitchens Sutton, as well as a brother, Kent Sutton. He keenly felt the loss of three of his siblings, Wanda Sutton Gross, Margaret Sutton Ehrmann and most recently, Donald Sutton.

During the Vietnam war era, Starling enlisted in a U.S. Army Special Forces Reserve unit and later opted for active duty, cross-training in four areas – Airborne, Special Forces Medic, Combat Engineer and Infantry Officer. While assigned to the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, he led anti-war activities on base. After completing several years in the army, he graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice.

Starling's life was largely defined by service to community through paid and volunteer work. He had an activist's heart and a visionary's mind.

Because Starling suffered abuse as a child and spent a significant part of his mid-teens living on the streets of Atlanta, he was powerfully aware of what it meant to be homeless and devoted much of his volunteer efforts to addressing issues affecting homeless and marginalized people.

He regularly mentored youth and was especially gratified by his work with Truck Stop, a youth development program in Atlanta. He was equally proud of two projects he developed in association with Rotary Club. The first, called Character Bound, was launched in the late 90's in partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Atlanta. It provided opportunities for inner-city youth to attend a two to three-day program at Fort McPherson where they were exposed to the comradery and discipline of the military. More recently, through Golden Isles Rotary, he initiated a transitional program for homeless veterans, which is now becoming a reality as Golden Isles Veteran's Village on the corner of G Street and MLK in Brunswick, Georgia.

For much of his life, Starling worked as a community/social activist and a real estate developer in Atlanta, spearheading community and economic revitalization initiatives in center-city neighborhoods. Prior to moving to Brunswick twenty-one years ago, as the Executive Director of the Cabbagetown Revitalization and Future Trust (CRAFT), he created affordable housing for existing residents of the traditional mill village. As a consultant through his firm, Starling Sutton Inc., he spearheaded two major warehouse conversions to art space in downtown Atlanta. While living in Brunswick, Starling consulted with the city on various development projects, advocating for attention for all parts of the city, north and south. He believed in the promise of the city of Brunswick and worked toward that as a consultant and citizen.

With his family, Starling joined the congregation of Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia in 2010, where he was a member of the choir. He was gifted with a wonderful voice and occasionally broke into song to communicate a point.

His family is grateful for the loving care Starling received from ICU staff at Southeast Georgia Health System following his surgery.

A service to honor Starling's life will be held on June 17, 2023, at 2:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Jane Page from his beloved congregation at Universalist Unitarian of Costal Georgia presiding. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Golden Isles Veteran's Village.

Golden Isles Cremation Center/Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.