INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — After decades of ensuring school safety for students and families at Sun Valley Middle School, Jerome Sutton was honored by Indian Trail Town Council with a street being renamed in his honor on June 24.
Sutton is known as “Mr. Jerome” to many families from the time that he took his post in 1992 until his retirement in 2022. Among many of the lives he touched, one premier act in his three-decade tenure was saving two students’ lives by stepping in front of a speeding car and protecting the children.
Sutton was also one of seven North Carolina crossing guards nominated for the Americas Favorite Crossing Guard campaign in 2018.
The decision to rename Treeside Street to Jerome Sutton Way came to the table by Mayor pro Tem Clarence Alsobrooks during council’s June 10 meeting as he noted that Sutton had previously been honored by the town as Mayor for the Day, recognized in a Fourth of July parade, and received a monetary award from the North Carolina Lottery.
Alsobrooks also mentioned that he recently inquired about a plaque honoring Sutton that had been discussed with former mayor Michael Alvarez.
Following a discussion during the June 10 council meeting, Town Manager Adam McLamb recommended renaming Treeside Lane, a town-maintained street adjacent to Sun Valley Middle School that has no addressed residences, in Sutton’s honor. Council directed staff to research the proposed street name change, coordinate with the county and confirm with Sutton that he was comfortable with the recognition.
Council authorized McLamb to take all steps necessary to replace existing street signs reflecting the former name with signs bearing the new name “Jerome Sutton Way” in accordance with town standards.
Council also director The Town Clerk Trena Sims to transmit certified copies of an ordinance authorizing the name change to the Union County GIS Department, Union County 911 Communications Center, U.S. Postal Service, and any other agencies and officials as necessary.
