Obituary of Evelyn Sue Thames Hutson

Evelyn Sue Thames Hutson died on June 3, 2011 surrounded by her family at Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads, Falls Church, Virginia. Sue leaves her husband of 60 years, Harry, four children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Born July 24, 1928 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana to the late Buford and Harriet (Hattie) Thames, she lived her adult life in Falls Church, Virginia, always maintaining her ties to Louisiana, especially Hammond and New Orleans. A memorial service for Sue will be held on Friday, June 10 at 11 am in the chapel at Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads, 3440 South Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA 22041, with a reception following the service. Sue graduated from Southeastern Louisiana College in Hammond, La., and moved to Georgetown, Washington, DC in 1949 to work for the federal government. She returned to graduate school in social work at UNC, Chapel Hill and LSU in Baton Rouge. Married in 1951 she traveled extensively with her husband, first to London and South Africa where he was a Rotary fellow. Later trips took them around the world. They settled in the Washington area in 1953 as he continued his work as an attorney in private practice. A woman of grace and a keen sense of humor, Sue loved her family and the wide circle of friends she maintained throughout her life. Her extensive family, grammar schoolmates from her hometown of Hammond, her housemates in Georgetown, friends and neighbors through her years in Falls Church and in the retirement community of Goodwin House, she kept in touch with everyone. Her parties were always well attended and beautifully organized affairs, including two splendid wedding receptions for her daughters, and a 95th birthday party for her mother. She was most proud of her children, their families and her husband. For many years, Harry marked the anniversary of their union with a red rose for each year of their time together, the last being a show stopping 59 long stemmed roses in September, 2010. Mrs. Hutson was a lifelong Episcopalian. Her deep roots of faith were planted at Grace Memorial Church in Hammond. Founded by her great grandparents, the church was the place of her own baptism, confirmation and wedding, where her children were baptized, and from which she will be buried on June 25. She was a member of The Falls Church Episcopal Church in Falls Church Virginia where she was head of the Altar Guild, and president of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) for several years. She and Harry were members of the “Bible Pals” a group of couples who met weekly for bible study and fellowship. An active volunteer in local organizations, she was a member of the Arlington Service League, later the Junior League, and the Mayflower Society, and she volunteered at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes Schools in Alexandria, Va. where her children were students. She was a member of the Virginia Diocesan Homes Board and then the Goodwin House Board of Trustees. She served on the Goodwin House Board during the development and construction of Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, her home until the end of her life. She is survived by her husband, Harrison D. Hutson of Falls Church and their four children: Harriet Sue Hutson Gray of Falls Church, H. Darden Hutson, Jr. of Richmond, Geoffrey William Hutson (Charlotte) of Houston, Texas, and C. Courtney Hutson Nuzzo (Louis)of Falls Church. She also leaves behind 10 beloved grandchildren: Tyler Gray and Kevin Gray of New Orleans, LA, Rebecca Gray of Falls Church, Peter Skrinski (Samantha) and John Skrinski of Richmond, Matthew Hutson of Milwaukee, WI, William Hutson and Anne E. Hutson of Houston, Texas, Catherine Sue Nuzzo and Vincent P. Nuzzo of Falls Church, and two great grand children Olivia and Mason Skrinski of Richmond. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in her name to the Goodwin House Fellowship Fund, 4800 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria, Va. 22311 or the Diocese of Virginia’s Shrine Mont PO Box 10, Orkney Springs, Va. 22845.