Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton’s Last Will and Testament
A story about an old mountain moonshiner hounded to death by tax collectors
Because of my interest in Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, I requested a copy of his “Last Will and Testament.” What a document! Short, to the point and no-holds-barred. He directed that there be no obituary in “any newspaper.” He further ordered that “My body be placed in my casket without embalming and with the clothes and shoes I am wearing at the time of my death” and that he be buried next to the grave of his father. “In burying my bodily remains, Mark Wayne Ramsey” [of the Newport fire department] “shall request the assistance of Big Dave Strange, J.B. Rader, Cookie Wood, and Gary Frost. Said persons are directed to engage in the consumption of intoxicating beverages during my burial. No other persons . . . shall be allowed to assist in or attend my burial.” In his own hand-written note, he stipulated that those at the burial look unkindly on anyone not invited and “run their ass off.” He was adamant that “No viewing, preaching or singing shall be permitted at my burial.”
“Popcorn” had his own casket which he wanted used. His direction was to “Put me in the casket. Empty my pockets and give the contents to Pamela Sutton.” Mark Ramsey was asked to “pick my casket up and haul me on the back of a pick up truck to the graveyard and get drunker than hell while they bury my ass.
I wish I had met Mr. Sutton in person because he sounds like the kind of man who made sense. When I wrote about him in Me And My Likker, I admired the man’s determination to live life on his own terms. After reading his Last Will and Testament, I admire him even more.
If you want a little more information about the Honorable Mr. Sutton, you can find it here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220369882/marvin-sutton
Until later . . .
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