Gay Hall Sudduth, born June 15, 1931 , passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024.  She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Rowe Sudduth.  She was born and raised in North Carolina.  Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. E.K. Hall of Mt. Airy, North Carolina.  She had one sister and two brothers.  She is survived by her son J.R. Sudduth, Jr., her daughter Ann Sudduth Hartley, her son-in-law W. George Hartley and four grandchildren, Walt, Hall, Lannie Hartley and Faryn Muston.

She attended Greensboro College, Wake Forest and the University of North Carolina and graduated with a BA in Speech and Drama in 1952.  She moved to Panama City after college and taught public speaking, drama, debate and English at Bay High School.  Gay was Miss Panama City in 1953.  She and Rowe married in 1954 and has been a member of First Baptist Church of Panama City since then.

She has served as President of the Junor Service League, Friends of the Library and the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club Ladies Auxiliary.  Also serving on boards of Christian Women's Club, Gulf Coast College Foundation, Panama Marine Institute, General Advisory for Adult Education, and Panama City Music Association-her interests were quite varied.  Gay also was campaign chairperson for many political campaigns, including Senator Lawton Childs, Paula Hawkins, Jack Eckerd and President Richard Nixon.

She wrote two cookbooks and a weekly Food Column for many Florida newspapers.  Her love of entertaining and food led her to teach many cooking schools and classes.

She loved her Lord, her church, her family, her home, her friends, cooking, entertaining, creative writing, drama, elegance, beauty and anything that put a smile on your face and a warm spot in your heart.

She led a blessed life and loved living.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Panama City Fellowship Hall (former sanctuary located at the corner of 6th St. and Harrison Ave.)  The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service. A private family graveside service will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1200. Panama City, FL 32402 in memory of Gay Sudduth.