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NVT Legends Award
2017
Adella Gauthier (on left) and Carol Sutton, receive the NVT 2017 NVT Legends Award from Stephen James, founder, and CEO of The NOLA Voice Talent Foundation.
Carol Sutton, Adelle Gautier, and Anthony Bean
It’s been the final curtain recently for two of the finest actors New Orleans has ever produced, Carol Sutton, and now my Dillard classmate, Adella Gautier. Shine on my Angels, your exits are but preludes for even grander entrances.
But alas, there is still “The” Patricia Maguire (Hill) holding it down. – Dean Irby
Carol Sutton and Adella Gautier
A native New Orleanian, Adelle, known affectionately to the family as “Tessie”, was born on January 15, 1948 – 2021, to the late Julia Watson Gautier and John Gautier. She was a graduate of McDonogh #35 Senior High School, Class of 1965. Adelle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dillard University in 1969.
From the Aegean Institute in Greece to Zuni Pueblo, NM she toured extensively regionally, nationally, and internationally sharing her energy-charged performance style with audiences of all ages. [ Adella Adella The Storyteller ]
THREE DASHIKI DIVAS. Carol Sutton, Pat Hill, and Adella Gautier. (referring to Dashiki Project Theater for those of you who may not remember).
2012 Lifetime Achievement winner Carol Sutton.
What happened to Carol Sutton?
Sadly, it was reported that the Steel Magnolias star died due to complications brought on by COVID-19 while under the care of medical professionals at the Tuoro Infirmary in her native New Orleans. She died in December of 2020 at 76 years old, Variety reports.
Queen Sugar creator Ava Duvernay also released a statement honoring Sutton’s life in the wake of the actress’ passing: “It was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage and screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409, ‘Stare at the Same Fires.’ May she rise and rest in peace and power.”
On behalf of the QUEEN SUGAR family, we celebrate the life of the stellar Carol Sutton. It was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage + screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409, “Stare at the Same Fires.” We bless her. May she rise and rest in peace and power. pic.twitter.com/OMbRExLvMz
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 12, 2020
“Carol Sutton, she could play Brad Pitt” – TLNP
Talking Like Normal People
Sutton died on December 10, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Orleans at age 76, seven days after her birthday. She is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Carol is survived by her son, Archie; daughter, Aunya; brother, Oris Buckner; sister, Adrienne Jopes; and five grandchildren.
James Bartelle (Artist)
“In honor of the late great Carol Dickerson Sutton
Based on a photograph by James Kelley. This was Carol as Marguerite “Camille” Gautier in The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans’ production of Camino Real. Carol went on to win the Big Easy Award for this role. Truly a talent matched only by her incredible spirit.”
