Susie Musgrove Coleman

Susie Musgrove Coleman had her homegoing on Sunday, March 17, 2024, reuniting with her husband (William “Bill” Faulk Coleman [or Billy as she called him]), her son (William F. “Bubba” Coleman), her mom (Hattie Murl) and dad (John Bunyan), her brothers Randall, Kenneth Earl, and John Walter, and other family and friends. Susie is survived by her daughter, Becky Miller (Mitch) and son, John Coleman (Shea), along with a brood of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great great grand child (of which she was known by all as Nonnie), including Amelia Byrd (Doug), Brandie Staney (Alan), Justin Wimberly, Michelle Miller, John W. Coleman (Jackie), Chris Coleman (Amanda), Dustin Coleman (Jesica), William Morton, Bruce Staney, Petra Staney, Beatrix Staney, Kelly Brodeur, August Brodeur (Cearra), McKayla Wimberly, Seth Wimberly, Henry Wimberly, John W. Coleman, Olivia Coleman, Josie Coleman, Paxton Coleman, Emma Coleman, Magnus Coleman, and Azalea Brodeur. Susie was born to Hattie Murl and John Bunyan Musgrove in Recovery, GA, on November 30, 1930, in a one room wooden cabin, close to the banks of the Flint River. Until her last day, she owned a piece of her homestead, a small plot of land to remind her of who she was and where she came from. She was the oldest of 4, and many mornings she would walk with her father to Faceville highway, where he would catch a ride to work. She would help out her mom around the house, daily walking down to the creek to collect water for the family for cleaning and cooking. She faced trials and tribulations growing up, including the loss of her father at a young age, but her life in rural Georgia put her on a path of a life of service. In high school, after the family moved to Tallahassee, she became a proud Leon High School Lion, playing a silver clarinet in the Marching Band; one of her greatest memories of high school was marching with the band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. She then attended FSU for a bit, fueling her life-long love for the Seminoles. She soon met her future husband, Billy, thanks to her best friend, and married him on December 24, 1950, before Billy was deployed as a soldier in the US Army. Throughout their married life, Susie was proud of her role as the matriarch of the family. She raised three precocious children, Becky, Bubba, and John, whom she would take to marching band practice, 4H, or rodeo practice. She called the entire state of Florida home, following her husband and his road construction jobs around the state until his jobs took him overseas and she returned to Tallahassee (though she did make sure he knew where they moved so he could find his way home!). Her professional career included working with the Florida Department of Natural Resources and the Florida Division of Mine Reclamation, where she was driven, passionate, and often tenacious. She was proud of her career, what she accomplished, and her role in supporting her family. Susie’s life-long focus on service was realized in many ways, one of the most delicious ways was through her love of cooking. If you ask any of her grandchildren, they will tell you one of the greatest memories of their Nonnie is her homemade biscuits and she always made them if she knew grandkids were coming over for a meal (regardless of the meal [she did not believe in too many carbs]). She served college students by making them home cooked meals while they were away from home, and she served the church by making highly sought-after key lime cake for fundraising efforts. Her life of service extended into many areas of the church. As a long-time member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Tallahassee, she served as a Sunday school teacher (sometimes having “minor” disagreements with the pastor when he tried to move someone from her Sunday school class). She also served as church clerk, helping lead the church through change. And, she served as an ardent supporter of the church choir, clapping along, keeping time, and being led in worship through the songs of the choir. If you had the good fortune to know her, you saw a wonderful, humble lady who always served others before ever serving herself. She may have only stood about 5’3” tall, but she was larger than life! Her children and grandchildren may have been physically taller than her, but she stood head and shoulders above anyone. And though she often never got around to wrapping a birthday or Christmas present, no one ever doubted her love and devotion. We know Billy is happy she is home with him (and we know she is happy to see him), but she will be missed. She personified the essence of the Greatest Generation with her service to others, her grit, her determination, her love, and her devotion. Susie’s family would like to thank the staff of The Villas at Killearn Lakes and the Big Bend Hospice for taking care of her. In lieu of flowers, Susie and the family would appreciate memorial contributions to be made to the Lighthouse Children’s Home of Tallahassee, Florida. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Fellowship Baptist Church. The service will follow at 1:00 PM, and the burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 6412 Memorial Blue Star Hwy., Chattahoochee, FL 32324. Todd Wahlquist is assisting the family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

Tributes

Susie Musgrove Coleman

November 30, 1930 - March 17, 2024