Stephanie Maria Sutton

On September 17, 2026, Stephanie Maria Sutton went home to be with the Lord. She was 63 years old, and she lived every one of those years out loud.

Stephanie was born on August 6, 1963, to Charles Walley and the late Lena B. Edwards. Wilmington knew her, and Wilmington loved her.

She attended and graduated from A.I. High School and obtained her cosmetology license from Hodgson Vocational High School in 1981. 

If you sat in Stephanie's chair, you already know. You came in for your hair, you left with your spirit fixed too. She was a beloved hairstylist, and her salon was part sanctuary, part therapy session, part comedy show, and nobody walked out the same way they walked in.

She was an avid church member, and her love of Christ fueled her. It wasn't something she saved for Sunday, it was how she moved through the whole week. It showed up in how she served, how she gave, and how she loved people, even the ones who made it hard. But family—family was everything to her.

A selfless giver and true woman of service. Stephanie served as a member of New Pentecostal United Holy Church for than 37 years. She was a trustee on the finance board, youth leader for the YPHA, assistant choir director to the sunbeams, and the best chef some of us will ever know. She was a member of New Life UHC for the past 5 years.

She found purpose in cooking buffet style on Sundays. A day where she opened her home to friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else she felt needed to be surrounded by love. She used food as a way to bring people together. 2 to 3 days a week, she cooked dinner for seniors and deliver it to their homes. She packed platters and would take them to young men in the neighborhood while encouraging them to lean on the Lord. Stephanie had a heart of gold and her memory will never be forgotten.

Stephanie was preceded in death by her mother, Lena B. Edwards, and her siblings, Sharon Walley, Charles "Paz" Walley III, Doretha "DeeDee" Boomer, and Anthony Walley.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband, Dean Sutton Sr.; her children, Deneen Sutton, Dean Sutton Jr., and Danielle Sutton, and Daria Hubbard; grandchildren; Thomier White, Taylor White, Dailena Sutton, Destani Sutton, Ezara Williams, Dean Sutton III, Dino Sutton, Dasaan Sutton, Dafee Crisden-Sutton, Erin Hubbard-Witcher, Amari Hubbard-Brown, and  Ah'Lani Hubbard; siblings, Tracy Edwards, Bernadette Merritt, and Monica Irby, Tara N. Hudson, Barry L. Hudson (Amina), Nigel Styer, Lionel Walley,; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, clients, and friends who will miss her laugh more than they can say.