Susanne Smith 59 transitioned on December 30, 2018, at Hanson Hospice in Stevensville, MI surrounded by family. A celebration of Life services will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2018, at Refreshing Fountain COGIC, 175 S Euclid Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 with visitation starting at 10:00 am followed by services at 11:00 am. Burial will take place immediately after services at Crystal Spring Cemetery.
My beloved Susann Gordon Smith was born on August 21, 1959, to the late Willie Lee Gordon, and Deborah Jones in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Sue spent her life here in Benton Harbor and was the oldest of 12 children. Being the oldest she loved helping her parents look after her younger sisters and brothers.
Suanne’s young spiritual years were formed at Hopewell Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John Simmons.
Susanne graduated from Benton Harbor High School in June of 1977. She was one of 420 graduates; she played softball and volleyball. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. Susanne remained faithful to the class of ’77 before and after graduation. She was instrumental in assisting the graphic designer with a class t-shirt design for all seven class reunions. Susanne ideas for previous reunions were having Carcuriture drawings, at the 25th reunions (which was done by one of her nephew’s), having antique cars at the 30th and 40 the reunions with Eddie’s assistance, and many of our fundraisers. Paragraph 3: In 2017, Susanne was the Chairperson for our 40th class reunion, August 11 – 13, 2017. The theme for the reunion was, “When Will I See You Again?” She and her committees executed the second largest reunion of our class. Paragraph 4: Susanne’s commitment, hard work, and contagious smile. Sue furthered her education and received a degree in Business from Sienna Heights in May of 2013.
Susanne loved helping organize and put on events. When Susanne decided she wanted to do something she poured her heart into it. Most recently she was chosen to be the chairperson for her 40th class reunion at Benton Harbor High. She loved working in her yard beautiful and would spend hours
planting beautiful flowers, shrubbery, and the grass always had to be trimmed to perfection. She also shared her husband’s love for cars, all kinds of cars and attended many car shows with him. Sue was also one of the organizers for the first car show held in the Arts District in downtown Benton Harbor. Susanne and Eddie loved entertaining and having family and friends over for barbecues. Or going to visit her brother Lee, his wife Lisa and eating some of Lisa’s good cooking.
Musicality running in her family Susanne sang for many years with the gospel choral the Sounds Unlimited under the direction of Jerry Lott.
When you ask, Eddie, where did you and Sue meet? He replies with a smile my brother Jeffrey and I were riding around one Sunday when I first saw her walking down Highland on her way to church. I told Jeff that day…that is going to be my wife.
Susanne and Eddie were married on April 18, 1981, with a host of theirs closes family and friends in attendance. Susanne enjoyed working for several local business Chardon Rubber, Whirlpool, Lakeland Health Systems and most recently Chassix. Susanne made lifelong friendships during her years of employment and kept in contact with her coworkers over the years.
Even though Sue and Eddie never had any children of their own they became godparents and lavished their love and time on Tony (Lil T) Gordon, Jr, TreKenya Gordon, and TaJuan Wright.
She departs this life surrounded by family at the Hanson Hospice Center, on Sunday, December 30, 2018.
Susanne was a devoted wife and after a fateful motorcycle accident that left her husband unable to walk and after many many healthcare issues and hospitalization she remained faithful to him until the day she departed this earth.
Until that day they are reunited by our Savior… Sue affectionally called “dumpling” will be loved and never forgotten by her husband Edward Carledus Smith… Also left to cherish and celebrate her life is her Mother, Deborah Cryer of Tacoma, Washington. Father in law James Guyton Smith of Grand Rapids, MI. Sisters; Diane Gordon of Los Angeles, CA. Kathryn Gordon of Spokane, WA, Angelic (Nicholas) Simmons, Vanessa Gordon all of Tacoma, WA. Maryanne (Harold) Perry of Grand Blanc, MI. Brothers; Antwan Gordon of Tacoma, WA. Willie Lee (Earline) Gordon, Jr, Tony Gordon, Lee (Lisa) Gordon and David Gordon all of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Sister in laws: Robin Guyton of Bloomington, IN, Glenda Bell of Benton Harbor, MI., Lori (Lonnie) Guyton Harris, of Atlanta, GA, Solange Smith of South Bend, IN, Rosa Lee Hamilton of Benton Harbor, MI., Arielle Guyton Smith, Jade Guyton Smith of Holland. Brother in laws: Bryan Guyton, Apple Valley, MN, Jeffrey Robinson, Plains, Pennsylvania, Lawrence (Kim) Guyton of Atlanta, GA, Priest Granger of Grand Rapids, MI, Kareem (Carmella) Lynch of Atlanta, GA, Julian Guyton Smith in Grandville, MI. A host of Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
Sue was preceded in death by her father Willie Lee Gordon Sr and her Mother in law Kay Frances Smith.
Posted On: Friday, January 4, 2019 3:29 PM
