Susan Michelle Haywood

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:

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.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.