Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, December 21, 2023
The Oglethorpe Echo
Page A3
Obituaries
Susanne F. Burton
Susanne F. Burton passed away
peacefully, if not necessarily read
ily, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in
Athens. She was 83. The actual
mileage may have been higher.
Susanne was born on Dec. 28,
1939, in Indianapolis. She grew
up in Louisville, Kentucky, horse
country, a heritage she would carry
for her entire life.
Following an early elopement
right out of high school, Sacred
Heart Academy, and a stint in Ger
many with her new husband, com
pliments of the U.S. Army, Su
sanne settled in Lexington, and
brought two children into the
world.
As the old saying goes, she
wasn???t bom in Athens, but she got
there as soon as she could. Some
time around 1967, along with her
husband at the time, Dr. Thom
as A. Burton, two kids, Becca and
Jon, and Mandy, the basset hound,
she arrived in Athens. She never
left. Smart woman.
Always doing things the uncon
ventional way, after having two
kids and moving to Athens, she
then completed her undergradu
ate degree from the University of
Georgia (???71), and later received
her J.D. from the University of
Georgia School of Law (???75). Go
(Double) Dawgs!
She initially practiced law in
and around Athens, but her legal
??? and truly life ??? legacy began
when she opened a private practice
in the mid 1970s in Oglethorpe
County, initially in Crawford, then
later in Lexington.
For the next 40-plus years Su
sanne rode, practiced in and served
the many judicial circuits in North
east Georgia as a lawyer, dpecial
sssistant sttorney general, judge
and impolitic raconteur.
Susanne may not have blazed
the initial trail for women law
yers, but she absolutely wore a
mud hole in the path. Highway 78
between Oglethorpe County and
Athens has been paved a thousand
times over with the rubber of her
car tires.
She was the embodiment and
spirit of the small town country
lawyer.
Susanne was still puttering
around with her law practice close
to the time of her death. Time just
finally ruled against her, despite
her arguments to the contrary. She
objected, but unfortunately, case
closed. Ruling in favor of the Al
mighty.
Susanne had many loves and
passions, but none surpassed her
lifelong love affair with horses.
In 1976, the family was relocat
ed from ???in town??? living in Uni
versity Heights on the eastside of
Athens to a farm in rural southeast
Clarke County that would hereaf
ter be referred to simply as ???out on
Belmont Road.???
It was the first time, but not the
last time, that the Burton family
would be subjugated to the care,
feeding and pursuit of horseman
ship. Susanne was an avid dres
sage rider, but really just liked rid
ing. Period. And rode she did. She
remained active with horses up to
the death of her last horse, Socks,
who died only shortly before her.
During her life Susanne was a
member of the Episcopal Church
in Athens, Emmanuel Episcopal,
and later helped found St. Grego
ry???s Episcopal, where she attend
ed for decades. There, she served
faithfully on the Altar Guild, the
Vestry and as Chair of the Out
reach Committee.
Susanne was a voracious read
er of real books. She usually read
three at a time: her home book, a
waiting for court book and a spare.
She was also a crossword puz
zle aficionado, a remarkable pia
no player, a ruthless card player ???
perhaps except for Bridge, a poor
gardener, but a house plant whis
perer, a clothes horse to rival a
royal and managed to travel a fair
piece of the world.
When agitated with you or by
you, she worked in profanity the
way other artists might work in
oils or clay. She was known to as
sociate with truly terrible sweet
wines or the oft rum and Coke.
She subscribed to the philosophy
of F. Scott Fitzgerald: ???never miss
a party ... good for the nerves ???
like celery.???
Susanne is survived by two
children, daughter Becca (Ath
ens), and Jon (Sandy Springs);
one daughter-in-law, Beth (San
dy Springs), and one grandchild,
Parr (Sandy Springs); a sister, Hel
en (Peggy) Keesee (San Antonio),
a niece, Sandra Keesee (San Anto
nio) and nephew, George Keesee
(Deanna) (San Antonio).
Susanne was met on the Rain
bow Bridge by an abundant me
nagerie of horses, dogs, and cats
??? and a few ill-advised birds ???
that populated the farm and her
life.
Susanne also leaves behind
more friends, confidants and con
spirators than could possibly be
mentioned, let alone accounted
for. And some who probably don???t
want to be to protect the guilty.
She???ll miss you most of all.
A Memorial and Life Celebra
tion Service is scheduled for 2
p.m. Jan. 20, 2024, at St. Grego
ry Episcopal Church, Athens. In
lieu of flowers, the family requests
donations be made to St. Gregory
Episcopal Church, or their favorite
charity, in Susanne Burton???s name.
Lord and Stephens Funer
al Home, East, is in charge of ar
rangements.
Barbara
Brady Thurmond
Barbara Brady Thurmond, age
4> MERRY
?? CHRISTMAS
A XT TV T T A DTVV XTT?\ i 7 VI? A D
WISHES FROM
Centurion
Poultry, Inc.
77, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 12,
2023.
Barbara was bom in Washington
to the late Arvin Brady and Mary
Lou Huff Brady. In addition to her
parents, she was preceded in death
by her husband, Alec Thurmond; and
daughter, Brabara Jean Gunnells.
A faithful Christian, Barbara
loved her church, Harvest Time
Christian Center, and was always
finding ways to serve there. She
could be found playing her guitar
at the church or helping with the
upkeep.
She will be remembered for her
warm laughter, sweet smile and
her care for others.
Barbara never sat still and was
always taking care of everyone
around her.
She is survived by her two chil
dren, Amanda York (Paul) and
James Hubbard (Lucreda); three
grandchildren, Ethan York, Kate-
lyn Hubbard, and Autumn York;
and two brothers, Dewey Brady
and George A. Brady (Deborah).
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