James “Putt” Suggs, 94, formerly of Florence, Alabama, died on December 21, 2023 in Gary, Indiana, where he had lived for more than seven decades. He was the last of the famed “Suggs Boys” who were legendary football players during the mid-1940-50’s at historic Burrell High School. The seventh of eight brothers who were renown throughout northwest Alabama for their extraordinary athletic prowess, “Putt” lettered in football as a spectacular right end and as a guard on the champion basketball team. He was inducted into the Burrell-Slater Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
James was the son of Dock, Sr. and Amie Suggs and was reared in the Handy Hill community. He married his Slater Elementary School sweetheart, Cleo Hooks, and they parented seven children, one of which played professional football with the Baltimore Ravens. James was a highly respected citizen of Gary who provided leadership in local sports, mentored youth and modeled Christian behavior. He was a deacon in Van Buren Baptist Church where he was funeralized on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
Mourning his loss are relatives/friends in the Shoals area including the Rowell family, the Thompson/Hooks family, Mattie Beachum, Natalie Gordon, W.L. Smith and Anita Smith Cobb. May his soul rest in peace.
