Mrs. Janice Sutton Stokes

Mrs. Janice Sutton Stokes died in Canton, Saturday, March 6, 2022, after a courageous battle with metastatic uveal melanoma.

She was a graduate of Georgia State University and a retired IT professional. Her work took her to Canada, Europe, South America and throughout the U.S. She enjoyed meeting new people and loved working with people of different cultures.

She will be remembered for her questioning, inquisitive mind and love of learning.   

Her lifelong hobby was genealogy, and she worked on her family history from the time she was 18 until her death. Her goal for retirement was to combine all the stories and facts she had learned over the years into one volume to be passed on to future generations.

She was born in Gilmer County, to W. Carl Sutton and Helen Simmons Sutton.

She is survived by husband of 29 years, Henry Claiborne Stokes; mother, Helen Sutton, of Ellijay; son, Brigadier General David Jason Sanford and wife, Rhonda Godfrey Sanford and their three sons, Alexander Christopher Sanford, Joshua Kendrick Sanford and Justin Christian Sanford, all of Stafford, Va.; siblings, Cathy Sutton Meder and spouse, Robert (Bud), of Kennesaw, Alvin Sutton and spouse, Patricia Summey Sutton, of Chatsworth, and Melissa Sutton Mullins, of Ellijay; nieces and nephews,  Alexandra and Ryan Herring and Brandice and Mark Whitechurch, all of Kennesaw, Daniel and Jenily Sutton and Ashley and Michael Callan, all of Chatsworth, Hope and Dewayne Bridges, and Jonathan Mullins, all of Ellijay.

She was an adoring wife, loving mother and devoted daughter and sister. She asked that everyone celebrate her life by fondly remembering all the good times they shared together.

Per her wishes, she will be cremated and ashes scattered at her favorite spot off the coast of south Florida.  There will be no service.

Donations can be made to Thomas Jefferson University, Ocular Melanoma Research, South 11th Street, Philadelphia PA  19107 or online at giving.jefferson.edu.