As we celebrate Women's History Month, it is an excellent opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of women who have made a significant impact in their communities. Barbara Sutton, the President of the Kinston Lenoir County NAACP, is a woman of action and influence who has dedicated her life to serving people.

In high school, she discovered a passion for leadership and serving others. Having accepted Jesus Christ at an early age, she was voted into leadership positions with her church.

“I recall one of my classmates writing on the back of a picture to me ‘Born to be a Leader’,” said Sutton. “At that time, I had no idea of how true those words were and would continue to be throughout my life.”

In 2005 she founded Christ The Caring Ministries, a street ministry, and worked to ensure that all the effort was focused on Christ rather than herself. Over the years, Sutton continued to take on various leadership roles. In 2015, she joined the Kinston Lenoir County NAACP and immediately began to work and serve. She was appointed as the Youth Advisor of the Kinston Lenoir County NAACP, as well as being on the Education Committee.

In 2019, she became the first female president of the Kinston Lenoir County NAACP, and in 2020, the first president of the Lenoir Chapter of the North Carolina Association for Women in Ministry (NCAWM). She currently serves on the NC NAACP State Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee of the (NCAWM). Additionally, she recently launched Christ The Caring Youth Ministry during the pandemic and spearheaded Gathering of the Youth (GOT-Y) in March 2023

“I've always had a heart to serve people,” said Sutton. “I'm a person of action because I know that action moves things.”

She believes that we are truly better together and knew that being in a leadership position would provide the needed platform to reach a larger group of people. By doing that, she hopes to move our community forward into positive change.

Sutton has faced challenges in her role as an influential woman, particularly in getting some of the community to see and understand how the NAACP works. However, she continues to move in accordance with the Constitution of the NAACP Bylaws for Units, and she remains undeterred in her mission to serve the people.

She has collaborated with others in our community to bring about positive change. Since 2018, the NAACP has partnered with the Kinston Police Department with the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) initiative, and she has seen positive changes as it pertains to Black and Brown students getting criminal backgrounds while still in school. This has been a win/win for all. The Kinston Lenoir County NAACP, under Sutton’s leadership, also partnered with the Lenoir County Health Department and hosted vaccination sites during the height of COVID-19 to help the Black and Brown communities get vaccinated.

Joyner believes the most pressing issues facing the community include crime, misinformation, and the way mental health is viewed. Other issues include a lack of youth events, summer jobs, and the need for more community attending meetings.

“The steps that we can take to address these things is to continue what we have lately started and find more ways to bring the community into the action of moving together towards positive change,” said Sutton.

Sutton plans to continue serving her community in various capacities by empowering people to see their purpose. She hopes to continue to build safe places for the youth by connecting them with like-minded passionate people. Sutton will continue to use her voice at any and every meeting she’s a part of and be visible in the community.

Barbara Sutton is a woman of action and influence who has dedicated her life to serving people. Her contributions to our community are immeasurable, and her leadership has brought about positive change. She is a shining example of what it means to be a woman of influence and an inspiration to us all.