Suzanne Miller Humphreys

Our beloved Susu joined our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 25th. Preceded in death by her son Richie, husband Richard, parents Leon and Leta Mae, and sister Nancy, she is survived by her daughters Mary Humphreys Parker (Joe) and Kathy Suzanne Humphreys (Wes). Her grandchildren Hannah, Miller & Abby, Rachel & Carter, Rebecca, Charlie & Ben, and great granddaughter Ruby were blessed by her unconditional love, sense of humor, pure heart, and sweet spirit.

As graduate of Hot Springs High School (1960) she looked forward to every class reunion and treasured the many friends from her early childhood and teenage years in Hot Springs. She kept in touch and made a point to join the “Lunch Bunch” the first Saturday of the month with HSHS classmates. After high school she attended Ouachita Baptist University and was nominated by the Freshman class to represent them in the Miss Ouachitonian Beauty contest, where she was chosen by Raymond Burr as the winner.

As a child, Suzanne loved riding horses and told many stories of riding in open fields where she and friends galloped their afternoons away. She grew up on Lake Hamilton where her parents made life magical. Her father sent her letters from WWII with pieces of gum and amusing drawings. The family enjoyed camping on Big Goat Island in their homemade water camper named the Arkadoodle. She learned the art of being a loving mother and homemaker from her mother, Leta Mae. As homemaker Suzanne sewed beautiful clothes for her children, made every meal special and had that special touch that made her an exceptionally loving mother—her tradition of warm towels after a bath and a cool compress for your forehead live on in the love she passed to her children and grandchildren.

After raising her kids, she began working and rose to Director of the Senior Companion Program in Hot Springs. She wrote grants and published a cookbook to fundraise for the program. When Mary had children she retired and relocated to Dallas, Texas. Helping raise Hannah, Miller, Rachel, and Becca filled her with joy. Nothing made her happier than being their Susu. She was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas for over twenty-five years where she made wonderful friends and continued her Bible studies. After moving back to Hot Springs in 2020 she joined First Baptist Church where again she made new friends and continued to worship and study with her Connections Sunday School class. She maintained a tradition of sending a little treat money and a Bible verse to each of her grandchildren weekly during their college years.

Susu will be remembered by all as an incredible mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, but she was so much more than that. She was smart and savvy, you always wanted her on your team if intelligence and strategy were needed in the game. Her ability to listen, provide wisdom and sage advice was a lifeline and blessing to those who sought her counsel. She loved cooking, music, painting, crochet, and shopping flea markets for arts and crafts. She loved boat rides, walking on beaches searching for sea shells and has collection of sand from around the world. She was an artist, philanthropist, caregiver, chef, and above all else, Susu was a woman who had compassion and showed kindness to all she encountered, she was a light to many in dark times. Each and every person who was blessed enough to have her in their lives is a better person because of her. She was patient and kind under every circumstance and could always make you laugh with her quick wit. Everything she did, she did with a heart for others. She was a role model and a gift to her family.

Every person who ever spent time around her knew and loved Susu as if she was a member of their own family. She was a master of so many skills and enjoyed nothing more than sharing her creations. Perfecting everything from the best tasting birthday cake imaginable to handmade baby blankets that are still cherished to this day, Susu would spend countless hours working diligently to bring smiles to the faces of those she loved. Those of us who were lucky enough to live under the same roof as her knew there was nothing she couldn’t do. She was our velvet rock—a soft, warm, cozy, anchor and touchstone for us all.

Susu was a fierce believer and woman of God. She lived every day to serve our Lord through acts of true kindness. We always knew where her heart was and everyone in the family believes that she had a “direct line to the man upstairs”. Just being in her presence was more calming and reassuring than anything else. She could instantly lift your spirits and always had the perfect Bible verse to address whatever adversity was in your path.

The pain of her physical absence will be with us forever, but she will live on in each of us through acts of service and unconditional love. In honor of her life and incredible legacy, always choose kindness. If everyone could be more like Susu, even just for one day, the world would be a better, brighter place.