SUSAN BLACK JAMES PASSED FROM THIS EARTHLY LIFE INTO THE ARMS OF JESUS CHRIST, HER SAVIOUR, ON AUGUST 27 , 2021. SHE WAS BORN IN MEMPHIS, TN ON MARCH 19, 1947 TO DR. EMMETT & CAROLYN BLACK WHO PRECEEDED HER IN DEATH.
AT AN EARLY AGE HER FAMILY MOVED TO STARKVILLE, WHERE SHE GRADUATED FROM STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. SUSAN GRADUATED FROM MSU WITH AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE DEGREE.
WHILE AT MSU, SHE TOOK A CHANCE ON A BLIND DATE THAT WOULD BEGIN A JOURNEY IN FAITH FOR FIFTY YEARS. THE PATH BEGAN AT THE MSU CHAPEL OF MEMORIES ON AUGUST 28.1971.
THE PATH LED THEM TO KOSCIUSK0, MORTON, GRENADA, MERIDIAN, AND THEN BACK TO STARKVILLE. ALONG THE WAY SHE TAUGHT ELEMENTARY CLASSES AT KOSCIUSKO AND MERIDIAN, RETIRING FROM STARKVILLE ACADEMEY AS ELEMENTARY LIBRARIAN IN CHARGE OF THE ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM. SHE ENJOYED HER TIME WITH THE STUDENTS, AND WAS SO PLEASED TO FOLLOW THEM AS THEY GREW AND WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD.
SHE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF FIRST BAPTIST STARKVILLE, BEGINNING IN THE NURSERY THEN WITH THE YOUNG ADULT DEPARTMENT. SUSAN WAS ONE OF SIX CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM WERE BAPTISED IN THE CHAPEL. DURING HER SHORT ILLNESS, THE MOST COMMON THING SAID OF HER, SHE WAS THE SWEETEST PERSON I’VE EVER KNOWN.
SUSAN’S LEGACY CONTINUES WITH HER HUSBAND DOUG, SON JUSTIN JAMES, DAUGHTER GINGER (ANTHONY) ODELL, PRECIOUS GRANDCHILDREN CLAIRE TOLAR, BRYCE TOLAR, AND AUDREY ODELL, SWEET DEAR SISTERS ANN (JIM) CRAIG, BETTY (A.J.) MCGREGOR, BROTHERS RUSSELL (EMILY) BLACK, BAY (ROBBIE) BLACK, ERN (KAY) BLACK, NEPHEWS AND NIECES OF WHOM SHE WAS SO PROUD.
THE FAMILY THANKS LEGACY HOSPICE FOR THEIR TENDER AND LOVING CARE GIVEN TO HER DURING THIS TIME, ANGELS ALL OF THEM! THE FAMILY ALSO REQUESTS THAT IN LIEU OF FLOWERS DONATIONS BE MADE TO THE FBC CHILDREN’S BUILDING FUND, THE STARKVILLE ACADEMY LIBRARY FUND OR THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL.
A GRAVESIDE SERVICE WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY AT 2:00 AT MEMORIAL PARK, WELCH FUNERAL HOME IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. CASUAL DRESS WOULD IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE WEATHER.
