Portland has a few less cakes these days because the giving soul of Parnell Pedigo Suttle passed on September 29th, 2024, at the age of ninety-eight.
Born and raised in Portland and living her entire life on the same street, she was a noted Portland historian. To talk with her was a treat because she had so many memories of yesteryear. Fortunately, many of these stories are recorded in Portland’s archives.
She was known as the “cake lady” sharing her cakes with church, friends, family, and local leaders. One of the highlights of her talent was to donate cakes for local events for our community and watch with pride as the bids soared, generating large amounts of revenue for worthy causes close to her heart. After these benefits, when the family would dine on her cakes, she would remind them they were eating one worth a thousand dollars. It was common to see a list of how many cakes were made each year and who was the recipient. You also got a checkmark next to your name if you sent a thank you card. She believed in kindness to others and the appropriateness of thank-yous.
She was honored to receive the Portland Citizen of the Year award and to serve as Grand Marshall for the Strawberry Festival. Working in strawberries was an important part of her life. Of interest, she never missed a Strawberry Festival, attending all eighty-three.
She loved her friends at First Baptist Church where she attended for sixty-five years, as long as her health permitted.
She spoke often of her love of her last job, which was Visitation Officer at Sumner County Jail, where she served for 13 years. She lived by her motto, which was “We all make mistakes, my mistakes didn’t land me in jail, we are all God’s children, and I’m not in the judging business.” Living by this motto, she rendered love and kindness to all those she met each day, regardless of their situation.
She is predeceased by daughter, Pam Whitaker; and sons-in-law, Bill Caudill and Howard Whitaker.
She is known as Mother and Mockma by a large, loving family and is survived by her daughter, Charlotte Caudill; grandchildren, Pat (Bonny) Caudill (great-grandchildren Bonny Jean and Will Caudill), Ty Caudill (great-granddaughters Brooklyn and Kaitlyn Caudill; great-great-grandson, Nathan Adiel Carmona Caudill), Andy (Patti) Whitaker (great-granddaughter, Annette Whitaker), Kim (Mike) Meadows (great-grandsons Alex (Josie), Max (Taylor), & Cooper Meadows; great-great-granddaughter Ryann Maxwell Meadows), Beth (Jeff) Weatherly (great-grandchildren Justin and Hannah Weatherly), and Brian (Angie) Whitaker (great-grandsons Eli, Seth, and Nathan Whitaker).
She was blessed with special friends; Martha Wix, Florine Gregory, John and Rita Taylor, and is predeceased by Ronald Cline, friend of twenty years.
Funeral service for Mrs. Suttle will be at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024 at the Portland First Baptist Church with Bro. Greg McCoy, Bro. Tim Colovos, & Bro. Jacob Haywood officiating.
Pallbearers: (Great-grandsons) Alex Meadows, Max Meadows, Eli Whitaker, Seth Whitaker, Justin Weatherly, Cooper Meadows, Will Caudill, & Nathan Whitaker.
Honorary Pallbearers: (Grandsons and Grandsons-in-law) Pat Caudill, Ty Caudill, Andy Whitaker, Brian Whitaker, Mike Meadows, Jeff Weatherly, & Great-great grandson, Nathan Adiel Carmona Caudill.
Visitation for Mrs. Suttle will be on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024 from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm at the Portland First Baptist Church.
Presentation of Flowers at Interment: Charlotte Caudill, Kim Meadows, Beth Weatherly, Patti Whitaker, Angie Whitaker, Bonny Caudill, Annette Whitaker, Brooklyn Caudill, Kaitlyn Caudill, Bonny Jean Caudill, Hannah Weatherly, Taylor Meadows, and Josie Meadows, & Great-great granddaughter, Ryann Maxwell Meadows.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tennessee’s Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 2206, Brentwood, TN, 37024-2206.
Wilkinson and Wiseman Funeral Home is handling all arrangements. https://www.wilkinsonwiseman.com
For more obituaries visit https://sumnercountysource.com/obituaries/
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