A photo of Sally Fields in the movie "Norma Rae" hangs in Crystal Lee Sutton's home in August 2001 in Burlington, N.C. The character in the movie was based on Sutton, who helped organize workers at the J.P. Stevens plant in Roanoke Rapids.
A photo of Sally Fields in the movie "Norma Rae" hangs in Crystal Lee Sutton's home in August 2001 in Burlington, N.C. The character in the movie was based on Sutton, who helped organize workers at the J.P. Stevens plant in Roanoke Rapids. AP photo/News & Record, Joseph Rodriguez
By Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina woman who inspired a fight to unionize a Southern textile plant and was later depicted in the 1979 film "Norma Rae" has died at age 68.

Crystal Lee Sutton's son said Monday his mother died in a hospice Friday after a long battle with brain cancer. Jay Jordan says his mother got little profit from the movie and lived modestly. The film recounted her battle against low pay and poor conditions at J.P. Stevens in northeast North Carolina.

Actress Sally Field portrayed Sutton's organizing efforts in the film and won a best-actress Academy Award for her role.

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Jordan says his mother spent years as a labor organizer. Sutton later became a certified nursing assistant but had not been able to work for several years.

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