Susan Michelle Haywood
1954-2020
Susan
Michelle Haywood, most beloved wife of Thomas (Tom) Hall, passed from this
mortal world to the reward she so richly deserved. It was a sudden and
unexpected passing, and her loss is sorely felt by those who knew her.
Susan
was a lifelong Charlottean, having been born a “Presby Baby” at Presbyterian
Hospital. She lived the first part of her life in the Newell community, near
what became the University area, and later came back, living a mere mile from
her childhood home.
She
made her career in Customer Service, from her first job at a dry cleaner on
Sugar Creek, to her last delivering Pizzas for Papa Johns. She loved to be out
and about mingling with customers, their families, and their pets. Her job
history took several paths. She was the first successful woman in the Charlotte
Observer’s circulation department. It was here that she met the Love of her
life, as she was of his. She later was in retail management, and finally found her niche about thirty-five years ago,
delivering pizza, and giving out pizza joy to her customers, doing store tours
and special events.
Susan
was special. Her laugh and her voice would grab you and keep you. She never met
a stranger, nor failed to try to make them a friend. Before she met Tom, who
tied her to an anchor, she traveled the world. From age 19 to 24, she made
three trips to the Middle East. Along the way, she saw the Netherlands, Italy,
and Greece, as well as Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Her first trip was to be with
her church, but when every one else cancelled she took off with another group, none of whom she knew.
Of course these were the same people she traveled with on her other two trips.
Susan
loved to collect, from foreign coins, to Hummel figurines (they proved to be one
of the first touch points for her and Tom), to T-shirts from everywhere and
everyone. And of course she collected people. some from work, some from
travels, and some from the business she started with her husband.
The
business is a computer business, and Susan was not remotely interested in
computers. But Tom always says, “If you’re not satisfied tell me, and if that
doesn’t work, tell Susan. She will fix it!” Customer Service again.
Susan
leaves behind a lost Husband, Tom Hall. They met the first week of September in
1980, by mid October, he had asked to marry him. In February, and Tom thinks it
was Valentine’s Day, she finally accepted. In July 1984, they were married. It
has been a journey, cut short too soon, that has been Wonderful for nearly 40 years.
From
the beginning Susan and Tom made it a practice to end each conversation with “I
love you.’ Each would expect it, and if not heard, would start all over again
to get it said. They even expanded this to their friends, and sometimes by
force of a true habit, to perfect strangers.
A
service to celebrate the life of Susan Michelle Haywood will be at 11:00am on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at
graveside. The Reverend Doctor Bill Jeffries will preside. The address of Charlotte Memorial Gardens
is:
7632 Hood Road
Charlotte, NC 28215
Tel: 1-704-536-2374
Robertson Funeral and Cremation Society,
and the Charlotte Memorial Gardens have provided assistance to the bereaved.
In
lieu of flowers, Tom requests that you donate to the charity of your choice. If
you cannot decide, choose one of Susan’s. They include St.
Jude Children’s Hospital, The
Make a Wish Foundation, Your local Humane Society, or The
ASPCA. But mostly, give Love. Let your family, your friends, and those you
touch in your daily life, know just how special, and how loved they are. There
is no greater gift.
Elizabeth
Barrett Browning
1806-1861