Rev. Jean Sutliff Young's Obituary
The Reverend Jean Sutliff Young, 89, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, passed peacefully at home on May 4, 2026. Her life was defined by faith, service, and love of family. Born July 13, 1936, in Gallipolis, Ohio, to Joseph and Eula Sutliff, Jean answered a calling that would shape her life and the lives of countless others.
From an early age, Jean loved music. In the mid-1970s, at her local United Methodist Church, she founded and directed a folk choir and assisted with worship. Following her heart, Jean attended seminary mid-life and was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1980. She went on to serve multiple churches across Maryland and sang in a groundbreaking Clergy Women Conference Choir. A gifted pastor and administrator, Jean served as a District Superintendent overseeing 60+ congregations throughout Montgomery County, Maryland; she also served on the Conference's Board of Pensions and the Board of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland, before retiring early on disability.
In retirement, Jean found joy as an active member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach, where she sang in the choir and volunteered in the office. She also participated in the Camp Rehoboth Chorus for several years. With her devoted partner, Susan, Jean created a beloved beach compound where family and friends gathered to make treasured memories. She also pursued her lifelong passions for gardening and landscaping, including flowering trees planted to honor each of her grandchildren.
Jean is survived by her partner, Bishop Susan Morrison; her children, Laura Parks (Jonathan), David Young (Sinin), and Charles Young (Annie Holte); her brother, Thomas Sutliff (Judith); and grandchildren Ian, Laura, Sophia, Jack, and Morgan; and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Ruth Strausser.
A celebration of life will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach, on Friday, May 29, at 11 AM, with greeting of family starting at 10 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Epworth Rehoboth Beach UMC music ministry or the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (https://inlandbays.org/).
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