It's been one year since Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton turned on the ignition and took a really long trip.
We'd like to say we understand why Popcorn took his own life but our hearts still hurt.
I want to extend my most humble gratitude to all the people who reached out to me and my family with sympathies and kindness. Your condolences have touched us more deeply than we could ever express.
The last three hundred and sixty five days have seen my father's body laid to rest at Harmon's Den, NC, dug up and hidden, displayed for the whole world to see, and buried again in Parrotsville, TN.
Less than a day after the second burial my Daddy's spirit got mad and punched the mountain. A huge section of boulders and scree came crashing down onto I-40 not far from the Harmon's Den graveyard. Maybe it wasn't Daddy's spirit. Maybe it was his parents Vader and Bonnie. Maybe Vader's spirit found his son's body missing and raged against the mountain looking to find him.
After a second landslide on the same stretch of highway a friend wrote to me: "Make him stop!"
Popcorn's moonshine will be missed but not half as much as the man himself. His bawdy tales and colorful language will be remembered for years to come. Building a still, plucking a banjo or dancing "like a wet dish rag" Popcorn kept alive the mountain ways he'd been born to until the day he died. He was a proud son of Appalachia and king in the world of moonshining.
Whether you met Popcorn online or in person you knew you were meeting a one-of-a-kind. Join me in raising a jar to the legendary Popcorn Sutton- may he rest in peace.
24 comments:
Nice fill someone in on and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you seeking your information.
hey aunt sky i love yu and momma so dam much and i misz grandpa a whole lot! yu are tha best aunt sky- love booboo
Miss you, too, babe! ~ Auntie Sky :) Write me a letter at my snail mail
P.O. Box 331
Northampton,MA 01060
I'm sick of getting bills in the mail- I'd rather get a note from you!BIG HUGS
wow, you are such a disgrace. Talking about your pa like he is a dog and now talking about him like he's the best thing in the world all to make an easy DOLLAR. You are scum and popcorn and his true friends know it!
Dear Sir/Madam/Coward who posts under "anonymous",
You obviously haven't read my book. You must be one of those folks who likes to shoot their mouth off with no information to back it up.
Sky anything you get from your writing is hardly enough to make up for all that you have been shorted being his daughter. This anonymous fool should be understood in the context of who they say they were, popcorns friend. Those that know you as I do understand that you are nothing this jerk accuses you to be.
As for you Anonymous, how god damn insensitive are you. This girl has a lifetime of neglect that she is dealing with in a constructive, cathartic way. Most would agree that writing about one feelings is nothing a but positive thing to do, yet you would deny this young woman this right. Shame on you for your lack of compassion. Popcorn might not be all good or all bad, but he is all the dad she had.
Rodney
Thank you,Rodney. :)
Hello Sky, my name is Travis White, son of Dennis White, and grandson of DL White. My grandfather had the shop that Popcorn helped him run. I want to let you know our families thoughts are with yours. Popcorn was always very nice to me, and I am thankful for knowing him.
I have seen stories about Popcorn, on the History Channel. He reminded me of my relatives who I remember from childhood, when I went down and stayed with my Great Grandpa.
Just turned on the TV and there is a piece on Shine, Popcorn was mentioned... Thought I would look him up, thought he would be someone interesting to visit, sit with and listen to for a bit.
Sorry to hear of his passing; always bothers me to learn of a real person movin on.
Your father reminded me of where i came from and I'm going back!!!!
Your father reminded me of where I came from and I'm going back!!!
My old friend just gave me a jar. He said it was from Popcorn Sutton. I had no idea! I'm gona tell my son the story of the mountain.My condolences.Pinehurst NC.
our family is from beantown and white oak didn't know him personally but dad and mom did. grandpa knew him well enough to sit and sip with him. the mountains will never be the same with out popcorn and his craft.
I knew Popcorn back in the 1990's. We rented off him and he would take one of our kids with him up into the mountain. I surprised him, once, when he had come up to visit with his parents and stopped in to say Hey at us.. I asked if I could have a pint, next time he was on the hill.. pint of what? Popcorn, I am not a city gal.. I know that smell and I can tell your about done cooking.
Next week, I found a nice small pint of the best on my steps. I would save up my Corn meal to trade with him. I sure wish I had his recipe. It was very nice and smoooooth.
Geez, Anonymous. What family on the planet doesn't have some dysfunction and a love/hate issue with at least one family member? Let a person live their life the best they can and deal with their problems in a way that makes sense to them. It doesn't have to make sense to you. You know, we're ALL struggling with something. No reason to beat 'em down.
Signed: Marie Franklin
Thank you, Marie. & Mountain Rose: it was smoooooth stuff wasn't it. ;)
Jan 2012, I am from Middle Tennessee, but I just 'met' your Dad, via the TV program 'Moonshiners'. I wanted to know more about him, so came to the internet. He appeared to be quite a character!
In your blog entry "One Year Later", you mentioned him being 'dug up and hidden...could you fill in some on that...what happened?
S.A.Shanks
Hey, Sadie,
The story of what happened to our father's body after his death is a long one. In short his widow moved the body without telling his family. She did this for flimsy, if not completely false, reasons. His body was kept above ground until his memorial service; the one so famously attended by Hank Williams Jr.- who freely admitted that he did not know Popcorn while Popcorn was alive. Popcorn was then buried in the side yard of the house he lived in Parrotsville, TN- where he commited suicide. I intend on returning my father's body, with the help of my many siblings, to the cemetery he stated repeatedly that he wanted to be in; beside his parents, Bonnie and Vader, and best friend Lethie.
I am so sorry to learn about your Father's death. I am watching Moutain Talk, and just had to know more about him, and found your blog. My grandfather was born in East TN of a Cherokee mother and English father, Your Daddy was truly one of a kind, and I am sorry I didn't find out about him in time to meet him in person. Take care of yourself a d your heritage.
Linda
Sky,
I ws wonder where the A Model Truck ended up? No I am not looking to buy it justt hoping it stayed with someone that appreciates it! And that is that someone meets with family approval I would like to offer something that needs to be with it.
Your Daddy was a hellova MAN, wished I had learned of him before he was sent to Heaven early!!
Regards,
Rick...
Rick~ The truck was purchased years ago by a business man or a judge...can't remember which. ;) I'm sure they've given it a good home.
~Sky
Popcorn... I only talked with him a few times. He was a son of a bitch...but you have to say that with a smile when you say it.
Knowing Popcorn by now he's sitting on the devil's front porch sipping and cutting up with him.
He made likker about like many do, but what made his really special was knowing him then drinking it. You just had to laugh at something he said or did while sipping it, and it was smooth,the magic was he knew just how to take the fire out and cut it just enough.
Sky I am very sorry bout your dad he seemed to be a very funny and cool man and I have no problem raising a jar in his name shine on popcorm.
Sky
I'm sorry to hear bout popcorn. I lost my dad in 04 and still miss him. But I saw popcorn on the.C.m.t. the first time. I knew what i was going to do. Popcorn is a hero to me. I'm learning more every batch. I wished I would have known him. But maybe him and my dad r together up there watching over us.
Thanks. Bama hillbilly.
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