Jean Guthrie Surratt

He was born in Charlotte on October 1, 1921, to the late John and Emma Surratt. He was the eldest of the four brothers, Jerry, Jimmy and Johnny, all of whom preceded him in death. His friends and family knew him as a humble soul who rose out of the Great Depression with very modest means and achieved success and gratification in life through self-motivation and hard work. Mr. Surratt lived every day filled with a sense of duty to country and community, faith to his God and Church and selfless kindness to all around him.

He attended Central High School and won several awards delivering the Charlotte Observer including, age 16 in 1937, the gold medal for good service worthy of front page mention with his photo. He saved enough money from his paper route to buy his family’s first house on Thomas Avenue in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood where his parents lived their final years. He always dreamed of airplanes, and winning a flying course at age 19 was the start of a distinguished career as naval aviator. He was the first high school graduate in the Southeast to be accepted into Naval Aviation Cadet program, which won him his second front page mention in the Observer. After earning his Golden Wings, he was one of few chosen to the Marine Air Corps where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Before being shipped off to war, he married his high school sweetheart Betty Lou Howser in 1944. After surviving several training accidents, he was shipped to the South Pacific. Over a period of 7 months he flew a Douglas SBD-1 dive bomber on 27 combat missions, and survived several close calls, including engine failure, landing on a remote island. By the end of the war, he was promoted to captain, and earned an Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Mr. Surratt graduated from NC State with a degree in architectural engineering, taking a first job with the Corp of Engineers. He was later hired as the first architect for Belk Stores Services, where he and two draftsmen were responsible for all architecture and interior planning for the more than 300 stores at that time. He worked there for 31 years, retiring in 1986 as VP Chief Architect, and store planning administrator. After retiring, he continued as an architectural consultant for Belk Stores Services and South Park Mall, and loved to work in his flower garden and paint water colors. His wife Betty Surratt died in 1984, and he later married Marion Gwinn of Charlotte, who passed away in 2004. Mr. Surratt devoted years of charity work for the Wycliffe Bible Translators, and donated his architectural talents to many people and organizations such as Hezekiah Alexander House, JAARS Missionary Group and several local churches. He was devoted to his religion, and served as deacon and elder while member of Selwyn Presbyterian Church, and later in life with Sovereign Grace Church.

Mr. Surratt was a gentleman who was kind in thought, word and deed. He is survived by his daughters, Sherry Surratt and Cathy Surratt; his son-in-law, Yossi Shem-Avi; and granddaughter, Ella Shem-Avi. The family would like to thank the staff at Sharon Towers and the good people of Hospice of Charlotte for their excellent and compassionate care.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, October 25, in the chapel of Harry & Bryant, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte. The family will receive friends following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative, Charlotte Region, 1420 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.