Nan Sutton: Hometown Girl

“I love this town and its beauty. My favorite thing is coming toward Bay Street from Ribault Road when the breeze is coming off the river bending the moss sideways-there’s nothing more beautiful than that.”  – Nan Sutton

Beaufort’s majestic charm exhales over towering oaks, across glimmering estuaries, and through swaying marsh grasses.  After spending 16 years in New York City and traveling the world, Nan Sutton returned to her beloved home where the salty marsh waters run through her veins. Nan’s eyes sparkle as she reminisces about her small town childhood surrounded by nature’s beauty and a loving family. Raised on the Beaufort River, Nan is the youngest of three children. Her mother was the “strong, silent type,” while her father was “the personality, he always knew the right line and the right joke.”

A close knit family, Nan shared memories of her older brother Steve Brown picking her up by her ears as well as boating on the Beaufort River with her father, Ned Brown. “Dad was a Lowcountry river rat born in 1923 on Parris Island.” The property overlooking the river on which she and her siblings grew up was purchased by her father from Kate Gleason in the 1940s. Other nostalgic reminiscences include typical coastal pastimes such as sailing a Sunfish and water skiing. More specific recollections were the purchase of an Easter outfit, complete with gloves, hat, shoes, and a dress from Kenwin’s on Bay Street. She remembers fondly “when mom and I would sneak into Koth’s grocery store before Sunday school each week for a coke with crushed ice and a package of Nabs crackers. My grandmother owned Sally’s Alteration shop on West Street where the Old Bull Tavern is now located. She would give me a quarter and I’d go to Edward’s 5 & 10 for candy.” Nan went on to share memories of local downtown businesses of the time to include Edwards 5 & 10, Luther’s Pharmacy, the Breeze Theater (now Panini’s), People’s Bank, and Kenwin’s.  “I worked at Belks (now the Saltus building) in high school wrapping presents at

Christmas. Now my employees refer to me as the “wrapping Nazi” because I insist on well wrapped packages. I got it from working at Belk’s all those years ago.”

Nan graduated high school from Beaufort Academy and went on to earn a degree in business from the College of Charleston. Her travels have taken her around the world to places like England, Rome, and her favorite, Paris.

Following college graduation, Nan accepted a job in marketing at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. Having done some acting in college she was surprised to receive a call at her office from a casting agent based upon a recommendation from her collegiate director. Despite her love of the theater, Nan adamantly declined. Undeterred, the casting director called again the next day imploring her to reconsider. Finally, she accepted his offer to meet for an audition. A few days later she drove to Charleston and met the man at a hotel. Walking into one of the rooms she was introduced to another director sitting in a chair near a vestibule with photos of well-known actors starring in the film. She read for the part and left. A week later they offered her the role as Linda Holland, sister of Alex Holland (played by Ray Wise) in the cult classic, The Swamp Thing. She would later discover that the other director present during her reading was the infamous Wes Craven. Months after filming was complete, Nan received a letter from Wes with both ‘good and bad news.’ The good news being none of her scenes were cut. The bad news was her southern accent made an unbelievable sister to her on-screen brother, Alex Holland.  The solution was unusual but effective. They dubbed her voice with that of a Los Angeles actress. “I remember Wes yelling “cut” after one of my scenes saying my accent was too southern. The line was “It’s replicating like mad” which apparently came out as “mayad.” He had me repeat the word several times in an effort to sound more like “mad.”  I never realized I had a southern accent, it’s just the way I spoke.”

Nan would learn more about dialect and accents while training in New York City with world-renowned acting teacher, Uta Hagen, for five years. However, her acting career was short-lived and she took a job managing United Nations Catering at the UN building. Being in charge, she was responsible for all of the catered events in the North Lounge, an exciting endeavor exposing her to many heads of state including Margaret Thatcher, Fidel Castro, Yassir Arafat and President Bill Clinton.

Returning to Beaufort to be with her mother who was ill, Nan decided to follow a dream from her college days; opening a business of her own. Decades after college, her dream was realized in 2000 when she opened Lulu Burgess in downtown Beaufort. It was this very enterprise that introduced her to the love of her life, husband Mike Sutton. “I was being shown the space for my store and Mike was the contractor. He was in the building with his crew when I walked in.” They started dating after that chance encounter and celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve. They live with their adored dog, Lulu Belle. When the opportunity arises for a getaway, she and Mike enjoy vacationing in the Caribbean. Not surprisingly she shared, “I love the beach and the water.”

On her day off each week, Nan enjoys curling up with magazines followed by a nap. “I’m a magazine junkie, especially ones with beautiful photography. I love house magazines.” When asked if she had a hobby she responded, “No, I don’t have much time for that but if I did it would be photography. My father always hoped I’d be a photographer.”

Nan enjoys a wide range of movies from classic oldies like Sound of Music to modern day films such as Love Actually and Galaxy Quest. Reading is a rare treat with favorite tomes by Pat Conroy, particularly The Great Santini and Beach Music. Musical interests include a plethora of styles encompassing acoustic vocalists, in addition to Adele, Bonnie Raitt and Sarah McLachlin.

Nan’s friendly nature and empathetic manner are apparent when asked what she would request if given three wishes. “I would wish for an end to child and animal abuse, a cure for Alzheimer’s and cancer, and a good ole vacation.” Her goals for the future are straightforward. “Make enough money to retire someday. I just have to keep working hard.”

Nan is a hometown girl exuding the same heart, soul and beauty as the salty marshes and billowing moss laden trees surrounding her. One thing is certain; her love of Beaufort is as deep as the river on which she was raised. “I love this town and its beauty. My favorite thing is coming toward Bay Street from Ribault Road when the breeze is coming off the river bending the moss sideways-there’s nothing more beautiful than that.”