Susan Helms Waits

Susan Helms Waits, a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother died November 13, 2024 at the age of 88, with her family by her side at Big Bend Hospice. She is survived by her children Kimberly Anderson, Karen Leigh Waits, and Thomas McElveen Waits, her grandchildren Brendan, Thomas, Tory, Juliet and Nicolas and her great grandchildren Ayla, Spencer, Hadley, Cal, and Wren. Susan was born in Rockledge Florida in 1936 and after a period residing in several small Florida towns, found her ideal home in Tallahassee when she moved here in 1945 with her mother Jane Helms and her sister Peggy. The sisters attended Carolyn Brevard Elementary School on S. Calhoun Street (now the Bloxham Building) where she was to meet her lifelong friend Susie (Hay) Lamb. Happy days at the school (without a cafeteria) for these 10-year-old girls included a quick run of several blocks to the busy downtown Monroe Street area for lunch at one of several Department store lunch counters. Later, Susan attended Leon High School with Susie where the teenage girls formed an Andrews Sisters like singing quartet, naturally calling themselves “The Talla-Lassies”, (some out-of-town record producers showed mild interest!). Shortly after graduating Leon in 1956, she attended Florida State University to study psychology where she met her life partner Thomas A. Waits. Susan and Tommy married in 1958 and raised their 3 children with a slightly odd collection of pets, building a family life that was affectionate and fun. Susan’s quick humor complimented Tommy’s fun-loving behavior perfectly, even to the point where she laughed off her birthday gift from Tommy in 1975 of a pet skunk bought at the House of Pets on Tharpe St. Susan’s professional accomplishments included serving as Executive Administrator for the Florida Ophthalmology Association (1975 to 1979), a membership in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and a successful career as a real estate agent. She had a witty sense of humor and was a devoted reader of the Tallahassee Democrat, a proud grandmother and great grandmother, and a member of the North Florida Baptist Church. Her childhood, teenage years, and adult life were very much intertwined with that of our City, with the two growing together through the 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond and she was…..a true Tallahassee Lassie! A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 23, at Roselawn Cemetery, 845 Piedmont Dr. Tallahassee, FL. 32312. Todd Wahlquist is assisting the family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

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Susan Helms Waits

August 6, 1936 - November 13, 2024