Barbara Covington Sutton

Barbara Ann Covington Sutton was born on July 5, 1927 in Plant City, Florida to Maria “Tommie” and Edmund DeBerry Covington. She was the younger sister of Edmund DeBerry “Ted” Covington Jr. and Harrison Wall Covington. She graduated from Plant City High School, where she was Captain of the Girls Basketball Team and a cheerleader. She furthered her education at FSCW (now FSU) for two years before transferring and graduating from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

Upon graduation from Chapel Hill, she was a Social Worker in St. Augustine, Florida before marrying Clifford L. Sutton (her high school sweetheart) and moving to Orlando in 1951, where she taught 3rd grade at Apopka Elementary. After the arrival of her two daughters, Dusty and Missy, she stayed home to raise them and was very active and involved with their school and activities. She was a member of the Jr. League of Orlando and active member of The First Baptist Church of Orlando, when it was located downtown.

When the girls were in Jr. High, she decided to go back to work teaching school for a few years before starting a new career by getting her real estate license. In 1975 she opened her own brokerage, Sutton and Sutton Realty, which became one of the most successful firms in the College Park area of Orlando. Upon graduation from their respective universities, both daughters went into the family business for many years, with Dusty ultimately purchasing the company and eventually merging with Keller WIlliams at The Parks, where it still resides today in the heart of College Park.

She was a lover of the beach and the mountains of North Carolina, and enjoyed investing in real estate. Later in life she loved being a grandmother, known as “Bebop” to Casey, Whitney, Cary and Chloe.

She was preceded in death by her husband Cliff (of the famous Golden Area Gators and an all SEC tackle in 1948 at UF) of 61 years, her brother Ted Covington (best known for his work as a Gator Football announcer, providing color commentary for the legendary Otis Boggs over several decades), and other brother Harrison Wall Covington (Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the College of Fine Arts at the University of South Florida in Tampa)

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Cole (Dusty) Sutton (Phil Peters), Melissa Ann (Missy) Sutton Craig (Matt), grandchildren Casey Vala (Steffen), Whitney Vanderau (Phil), Cary Craig, Chloe Craig Sirmon (Justin), and many nieces and nephews. She was especially thrilled with the arrival of her first great grandchild, Miss Sutton Hayes Vanderau.

She was respected and loved by many and will be truly missed.

Due to Covid, a family graveside ceremony is to be held at a later date in Plant City, Florida. In lieu of flowers please donate to Grace Medical Home, 1417 E. Concord Street, Orlando, FL 32803 or Madison Youth Ranch, 1647 NE Captain Blue Rd, Pinetta, FL 32350