Albert Sumner Stout, Jr. life’s journey began on September 9, 1941 in Rowan County, North Carolina.  He was one of three children born to the late Albert Sumner and Mildred Hall Stout.  He departed this life on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Novant Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Albert’s family always stressed that we have been put on this earth for a positive purpose.  It is up to us to find that purpose, develop it to the best of our ability and make a positive contribution to society.

Albert attended the former Dunbar High School in East Spencer, North Carolina and graduated from the former Price High School in Salisbury, NC.  In 1969, he received a BA degree from Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC.

As a trailblazer, he was the first African American to be hired as a road deputy for the Rowan County (NC) Sheriff Department from 1969 – 1972.  During his employment as a deputy, he realized that law enforcement was his preferred career.  He continued law enforcement training by attending workshops, seminars and conferences that would enhance his skills as a deputy.  In 1972, he was appointed and accepted the invitation to attend the NC State Bureau of Investigation Academy and became a Special Agent for the State of North Carolina from 1972 – 1993.  He was certified by the following schools:  National Training Center of Polygraph Science, NY, first African American in NC to complete this course; Interview and Interrogation National Training Center; Police Combat and Fire Arm Instructor School, Camp Lejeune, NC; General Instructor – Basic Criminal Justice System, Raleigh, NC; Financial Crimes, Raleigh, NC; and Administrative Officers Management, NC State University.  The positions that he held as a Special Agent were as follows:  Criminal Specialist; member of the Violent Crime Federal Task Force; Interdiction Task Force, Douglas International Airport, Charlotte; and the Jamaican, Guianese, Puerto Rican Federal Task Force.  After retiring from the NC Bureau of Investigation, he became a Liaison Officer for the Police/Security Department at Livingstone College from 1994 – 2006.

Some of the awards and recognitions  he received were Bravery and Courage in the Line of Duty, US Department of Justice, 1975; Honorary Graduate of Drug Investigation DEA, US Department of Justice, Quantico, VA, 1975; Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award, Salisbury, 1976; NC Legionnaire of the Year, Asheville, 1977; Evening Optimist Humanitarian Award, Greensboro, 1977; North State Law Enforcement Officer Organization Officer of the Year, 1993; Community Leadership Achievement Award, Livingstone College, 1993; North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine, Governor of NC, 1993; and Livingstone College Leaders Hall of Fame Award, 2011.

Stout held membership in the following social, civic and fraternal organizations:  Houses of Prince Hall Affiliate – Western Star Lodge #9, M. H. Perkins #81 Holy Royal Arch Mason, Joseph P. Evans Consistory #280 and Pearl White Chapter #180 Order of the Eastern Star; first African American to become a Life Member of the Rowan County Peace Officers Association and the Society of Former SBI Agents; Life  Member of the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association; J. C. Price American Legion Post; Local and National Livingstone College Alumni Association; Crusaders Men’s Club; a supporter of the NAACP; Dragon and Dragonets Social Club; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Humanitarian Award, Salisbury; and has participated in events presented by the Piedmont Players.  He was also a Past Commissioner of the NC Department of Justice – Training Standards and Education; former member and Chairman of the City of Salisbury Advisory Board for the Parks and Recreation Department and a former member of the City of Salisbury Planning Board.

His hobbies were listening to and singing a variety of music, hunting, cooking and reading.

In 1967, Albert received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army.

He was a lifelong member of New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Spencer, NC., where he was a member and the choir and the “official grill master” for the church’s community cookouts.

“Albert Jr.” was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Henderson “Hump” Stout.

Albert is survived by a wife Loretta Ballard Stout; daughters, Tina and Delores Stout, Salisbury; son, Albert Stout, III, Tampa, FL; sister, Sarah Lightner, Salisbury; niece, Maria Ormond, Winston-Salem; grandchildren, Kendra Stout, Kristina Stout, Kiera Stout, Diera Mathis, Mone’sia Harris, Bria Stout, Michael Streater, Jr., Shoni Stout and James Luther, II;  great grandchildren, Shania Stout, Destiny Borders, Mason Himes, Malayia Chalk, Serenity Whittaker, Syn’cere Whittaker and MeKhi Whittaker, all of Salisbury.  His extended family; brothers, Albert Fairley, Cal Smith (Dorothy); sisters, Ernestine B. Ingram and Zollie Sullivan; and many cousins and friends.

Service:  Saturday, May 28, 2016, New Hope A.M.E. Zion Church, 1470 N. Long St., Salisbury, NC  28144; 704-633-7548. Wake: 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Funeral beginning at: 1:30 p.m., followed by burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Dr. Debra Hall, pastor, officiating.

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