Anna Langston Sutter Symon was peacefully lifted home on November 30, 2018, leaving behind her beloved and devoted husband of 64 years, Robert B. Symon, and her three children: Elizabeth Symon Richardson (Paul), Jennifer Symon Nettles (Larry) and Robert B. Symon, Jr (Cassie). Langston is survived by 8 grandchildren: Christine Richardson Riley (Nick), Thomas Richardson (Jessica), Matthew Richardson, Caroline Nettles Kennedy (Michael), Kim Nettles, James Nettles (Ashley), Lilly Allemond and Dennis Yurt. The growing list of great-grandchildren who will miss their “Mimi” reached 4 at the time of her passing. Langston was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas Sutter, Jr. She is survived by sisters Caroline Nusloch (Jerry) and Charlotte Hoggatt, sister-in-law Becky Sutter, and many nephews.
Langston was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 2, 1931 to Anna Drayton and Thomas Meriwether Sutter. Her father was an engineer and the challenging early Great Depression years led to a family move to New Orleans. As the oldest sibling, Langston constantly watched over and helped care for her younger sisters and brother.
She attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, earned her education degree from Southern Methodist University, and taught in New Orleans until she married and started her own family. While her love for New Orleans never waned, her husband’s work eventually took her across the nation. She fell in love with Connecticut where she met many life-long friends to whom she introduced several Southern traditions such as grits. A late 1960’s move to Los Angeles was a culture shock for the conservative Southern girl, but, again, new life-long friends and wildfires, tarantellas, earthquakes, mudslides and sonic booms made lasting memories. The last family move was to Houston in 1970, where she continued her lifetime work of service, faith and family.
Langston’s greatest joy and gift was nurturing children; her own, her grandchildren, and those of friends and strangers. She taught Sunday school to “the little people” for over 40 years and volunteered for years to assist in reading education for children at an under-served school. A young man earned his Eagle Scout by helping with her volunteer work maintaining the local elementary school gardens. And while she ensured a foundation from which each of her family members could achieve their dreams, her reach also extended to others, as when she volunteered to help her friend establish a thriving flower shop. Langston made the world more beautiful and interesting for others by leading unique public tours of historic Houston homes of the Heritage Society, where she volunteered with Bob. In her later years, thousands of visitors to Colonial Williamsburg enjoyed the beautiful grounds without knowing they had been served by Langston, who quietly tended to the maintenance of the gardens, in Williamsburg Virginia where she and Bob lived part time for 18 years.
As much as Langston devoted her time to others, she did find a little for herself and her wanderlust; traveling to Europe with Bob several times, Egypt and China, not to mention the wonders of this country from the majesty of Niagara Falls to the mystery of California Ghost Towns.
Langston indelibly touched many lives and her life made the world a much better place. She was the wind beneath our wings and she will be missed by those who knew her and many who did not, but who benefitted from her selfless acts of service.
A Memorial Service will celebrate Langston’s life at 10AM on Saturday, December 22, at Pines Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for consideration of a memorial donation in Langston’s name to the Pines Presbyterian Church Children’s Education fund at 12751 Kimberly 77024 or the Mission of Yaweh at 10247 Algiers 77041.
