World War II veteran, Pinetops native remembered for work in agriculture

Norfleet Lane Sugg, 99, an inductee into the Twin County Hall of Fame and a Navy veteran of World War II, died Sunday at Edgecombe Health Center by Harborview in Tarboro. He would have turned 100 on June 29.

Born in Pinetops, Sugg, known as “Fleet” by friends and family, graduated from South Edgecombe High School before earning a bachelor’s of science degree in agronomy from N.C. State University.

Sugg was long considered a leader in the state in agriculture and was the CEO of the N.C. Peanut Growers Association. He served as chairman of the Agriculture Council of America, and the executive vice president of the N.C. Agribusiness Council. He was the first president of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Society at N.C. State.

He was inducted into the Twin County Hall of Fame in 2011.

A Navy veteran, Sugg served 22 months in the Pacific Theater during World War II, primarily on the USS Sabine, a heavily armed tanker. While his duty station was the engine room, Sugg said he manned a 20mm anti-aircraft gun when the call to battle stations was sounded.

Sugg saw battle action in late 1944 with the Third Fleet in the Philippines, later participated in the invasion of Okinawa and anchored in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 18, 1945, following Japan’s surrender and the end of hostilities.

Sugg always shunned attempts to label him a hero.

“It was what we were trained to do and told to do. That’s what you did,” he said.

Sugg often reflected on his service while attending various veteran-related events, such as the monthly flag-raising ceremonies on the Town Common or at the Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum.

“There was no glory in it (service), and certainly not for those many who never came back,” he said, following last year’s Memorial Day observance.

Sugg was always a gentleman, tipping his hand and offering his seat as long as his mobility allowed him.

As a veteran, he was a long-time supporter of the Edgecombe County events, including the monthly flag-raising ceremonies of the Tarboro Edgecombe Golden Seniors, the annual Pilot Club Veterans Day observance, and the Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum observances on both Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until noon Thursday at Pinetops Methodist Church, followed by a funeral, with the Rev. Jason Duvall officiating. Burial will be at Pineview Cemetery in Pinetops. Carlisle Funeral Home in Tarboro is in charge of arrangements.