Susanne Harrell Thurman

Susanne “Susie” Louise Harrell Thurman, 78, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2016 at her home surrounded by family and friends, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.. She was raised in Chesapeake Beach for most of her young adult life and had many cherished memories from those years of her childhood. She graduated from Princess Anne High School in 1955 and later in life, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Tidewater Community College.

She was very compassionate and had a large heart to all, always willing to help if she could or at least lend an ear to listen. She was known for her slow southern drawl, contagious smile & a witty humor.

Of her many accomplishments, of which family was her proudest, she was involved in several gardening clubs and various associations during her life & was an active member at Haygood United Methodist Church until her health kept her from doing so. She was involved with The Lake Shores Gardening Club, The Master Gardeners Association of Virginia for the Tidewater area & acting as the secretary of the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. For a period of time she also worked at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station. Many a Saturday you could find her at the local nursery or in her backyard tending to her plants. While gardening was her passion, she did have other hobbies that she enjoyed. Cooking, quilting, genealogy, shopping for antiques, and traveling as often as possible were some of those she enjoyed most.

She is pre-deceased by her mother Edna L. Mecalis, her step-father Albin Mecalis & her sister Linda Harrell Monroe. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 57 years, Norval D. Thurman; 2 children, David L. Thurman of Virginia Beach (Suzanne) and Diane L. Thurman of Lake Wylie, SC; her grandchildren, Nicole, Nickolas, Kristina & Ashley; 2 great-grandchildren, Nickolas & Jerome; and brother Michael Harrell of Melbourne, FL.

The family would like to add a special thank you to all whose special touch and loving hands took care of our wife, mother, sister & grandmother over the past 10 years. We would especially love to say thank you to Shirletta “Shirl” Pope for her love and care over the past 7 years and her beautiful creations on her nails, not to mention her patience with other family members. We would also like to say thank you to Nori Walters with Hospice Care as well. Your love and assistance during this time was greatly appreciated and much needed.

A memorial service and viewing will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home in Virginia Beach on Witchduck Road. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to support Alzheimer’s Research.