St. Claire Eugenia Sellers

b. circa 24 March 1891, d. 12 May 1960
  • St. Claire Eugenia Sellers was born circa 24 March 1891 in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
  • She was known as Claire.
  • Julius Alexander Sellers and Virginia Louise Jackson appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Other members of the household included St. Claire Eugenia Sellers, Mary Elizabeth Sellers, Ella Jackson Sellers, Virginia Sellers and Amy Dell Sellers.
  • The following appeared on 3 July 1911 in The State: (Ruby, July 2) A number of visitors have been here during the week. A house party brought together a number of young ladies and gentlemen. Rev. and Mrs. J. Millard have had as their guests for the week Miss Maggie B. Turner of Winnsboro, Miss Marion Frazier of Blairs and Miss Walker Reedy of Clio. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Huntley entertained their attractive cousins, Misses Claire and Ella Sellers of Cheraw. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Harrall had as their guests Miss Laura and Lottie Harral of Cheraw, J. S. McGregor was the host of G. K. Craig of Waesboro, Alex. Harrall of Cheraw and Mr. Green of Lancaster. . . .
  • She married Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre, son of George Phillip Suttlemyre, circa 1918.
  • Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre and St. Claire Eugenia Sellers appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Caroilina, at 1625 Eleventh Avenue.
  • The following appeared on 15 February 1920 in the Greensboro Daily News: (Hickory, Feb. 14) One of the most brilliant social affairs of the season was the party Wednesday afternoon given by Miss Virginia Sellers announcing the engagement of her sister, Miss Amy Sellers, to Allen A. Goodwyn of Knoxvile, Tenn. Upon their arrival the guests were invited into the dining room where places for twelve were arranged at a table beautiful with its decorations of pink Killarney roses, hearts and pink shaded candles. Narrow satin ribbon streamers extended to each plate on which were attached the fortunies of the guests and on dainty little cupid cards was inscribed "Amy-Allen, 1920." An elegant luncheon then followed when many toasts were given the bride-elect. Favors were bonbon boxes filled with mints. The honoree is a pretty young lady and was most attractive on this occasion, gowned in a lovely frock of sunset blue georgette with gold trimmings. Her flowers were a corsage of orchids and radiance roses.
         Miss Sellers' guests were Miss Frances Geitner, Miss Louise Jones, Miss Kate Elliott, Miss Mary Allen, Miss Millie Kate McComb, Miss Greta Wezen, Mrs. W. N. Martin, Mrs. R. C. Buchanan, Mrs. Johnson Suttlemyre, Mrs. T. Pl Pruitt and Mrs. R. A. Grimes.
  • The following appeared on 29 November 1925 in The Charlotte Observer: (Hickory, Nov. 28) Mrs. Carl D. Moore and Mrs. Johnson Suttlemyer entertained the Do As You Please club Saturday afternoon at a luncheon. With the last course the announcement of the engagement of Miss Virginia Sellers to Mason Yeager was made with wedding slippers with cards attached--"Virginia-Mason, December 1925."
  • Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre and St. Claire Eugenia Sellers appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina, at 1625 Eleventh Avenue. Other members of the household included Charles Glenn Suttlemyre and Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre Jr.
  • She officially witnessed the death of Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre on 29 February 1960 at 525 First Avenue in Hickory, Catawba County, North Caroilina; at his residence.
  • St. Claire Eugenia Sellers became a widow at the 29 February 1960 death of her husband Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre.
  • The following appeared on 29 March 1960 in the Greensboro Daily News: (Hickory, March 28) The will of the late P. Johnson Suttlemyre, Hickory druggist and owner of Hickory Drug Co., has been filed for probate. His estate, valued at $225,000, was left ot his widow and two sons, Charles G. and Phillip J. Suttlemyre.
  • St. Claire Eugenia Sellers died on 12 May 1960 in Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina.
  • She was interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina.
  • The following appeared on 14 May 1960 in the Greensboro Daily News: (Hickory, May 13) Lawyers for Charles Glenn Suttlemyre moved today to have the high-strung 30-year-old son of a former Hickory mayor committed for mental observation after police said he admitted the fatal bludgeoning of his aged mother with a souvenir tomahawk.
         Police Lt. C. S. Teague said Suttlemyre readily admitted the attack on his mother, Mrs. Claire Suttlemyre, about 70, in the family's rambling white frame home Thursday.
         Suttlemyre, who has a recent history of mental illness, showed no remorse over the savage tomahawk attack, Lt. Teague said. The incident ended after Suttlemyre lifted his mother's battered body in his arms, carried her to a downstairs bedroom, and then telephoned Dr. A. C. Barnes who found the body at 5:30 p.m. when he arrived an hour later at the home in a prominent residential district.
         Lt. Teague and Cornoer W. E. Bass reconstructed this version:
         Suttlemyre, known to be a religious fanatic, and his mother began arguing upstairs over a Bible. Suttlemyre seized the tomahawk from a souvenir collection, and struck his mother a glancing blow on the shoulder. The terrified woman ran downstairs and into the dining room with her son at her heels. Scratches on her son's neck indicated to officers that the woman fought frantically for her life.
         In the blood-smeared dining room, Suttlemyre smashed his mother in the head three times with the tomahawk. Then he carried her to the downstairs bedroom and telephoned Dr. Barns.
         Mrs. Suttlemyre was the widow of Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre, prominent Hickory druggist who at one time was president of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association. He served two one-year terms as Hickory's mayor, in 1937 and 1938.
         An older son, Phillip, is confined to a mental institution.
         Suttlemyre attended Oak Ridge Military Institute, Lenoir Rhyne College and North Carolina State, which he left in 1952 because of scholastic difficulties after one year. He also was an Air Force veteran.
         He apparently never had worked and lived at home with his mother. He had submitted to treatment for mental ills in recent years and only Friday returned from Duke Hospital where he had gone voluntarily for treatment.
  • The following appeared on 19 December 1960 in the Greensboro Daily News: (Newton, Dec. 18) Superior Court Judge George Patton of Franklin has signed an order directing that Charles Glenn Suttlemyre of Hickory is entitled to inherit under his mother's will.
         Judge Patton concluded as a matter law that Suttlemyre was not legally responsible for the death of his mother because of insanity at the time.
         The mother, Mrs. Johnson Suttlemyre, died last May 12, allegedly from injuries suffered at the hands of her son.
         Suttlemyre and a brother, Phillip J. Suttlemyre, have been ruled incompetents and are confined to an institution.
         Nevertheless, the sons will share the mother's estate, including $250,000 left her by her husband, Johnson Suttlemyre, who died last Feb. 20, and $64,000 she had held in her own right.
         Two Hickory lawyers are guardians for the Suttlemyre brothers.
  • Last Edited: 14 Apr 2016

Family: Phillip Johnson Suttlemyre b. 3 February 1889, d. 29 February 1960