Napoleon Sullivan

Greenville, SC

Sergeant Major (Ret.) Napoleon Sullivan, passed away at his home on December 8, 2022, at the age of 88.

Napoleon was born in Greenville, SC on April 25, 1934, to the late Willie H. Sullivan, Sr and Emma Babb Sullivan. He was the sixth of their nine children and was preceded in death by his sister Queen Esther Sullivan, his brothers Horace Sullivan, Wister Sullivan, David Sullivan and Clarence Sullivan and sister Bernice Sullivan.

Napoleon is survived by his dedicated wife, Lucy Agnew Sullivan of Greenville, SC, who he lovingly always referred to as his bride. She was his high school sweetheart, and they were together 70 years. He leaves two devoted sons, Victor Sullivan, Sr (Marilyn) of Augusta, GA and Santos Sullivan (Bridgette) of Simpsonville, SC; Granddaughter Tenika Sullivan of Augusta, GA and grandsons Victor Sullivan, Jr. (Jessica) of Augusta, GA and Giovanni Brunson of Philadelphia, PA; Two brothers, Willie H. Sullivan, Jr. (Dorothy) of Greenville, SC and Bobby Sullivan (Lydia) of Fountain Inn, SC; Nine great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Napoleon was quiet and humble. He loved to read, travel, and spend time with his family. He also loved the Lord and his church and was a faithful church member wherever he was stationed. He was a member of Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Simpsonville, SC and served on the Deacon Board and Male Gospel Choir. He attended Rocky Creek his entire life until he became ill.

Graduating from Sterling High School in 1953, Napoleon joined the United States Army in 1955, where he served until 1986 when he retired. He served two overseas tours in the Vietnam War, and tours in Munich Germany, Okinawa Japan, and Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. His CONUS tours included Ft. Jackson, SC, where he completed basic training; Ft. Bragg, NC where he graduated from airborne school as a parachutist and later became a Jumpmaster serving in the 82nd Airborne Division; Ft. Campbell, KY where he served in the 11th and 101st Airborne divisions; Ft. Bliss, TX where he attended the Defense Language Institute to learn Vietnamese before his tours in Vietnam, and Ft. Gordon, GA where he served as an instructor for eight years. Over his more than 31 years in the Army he served as an Infantryman and Military Policeman and excelled through the ranks to Sergeant Major, which is the highest rank a noncommissioned officer can achieve. While still in the US Army, Napoleon became an advisor in the National Guard from 1975 to 1985, where he served as a Command Sergeant Major. He was awarded several military awards, honors and decorations to include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal with five awards, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, the Air Medal, and The Legion of Merit. After retiring from the military, he began a second career as a ROTC Instructor for approximately 15 years at Westside High School and later at JL Mann High School.

Napoleon was a soldier’s soldier. He loved and mentored each of the soldiers under his command and each of his ROTC students. He served his country well with honor, love and dignity; He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who was dearly loved by his family and will be truly missed.

Funeral Services: Thursday, December 15, 2022, 1:00pm at Rocky Creek Missionary Baptist Church with interment in church cemetery.