1
tree
planted in memory of David Suggs
Obituary for David Suggs
Obituary
“Time is a ship on which we travel. How long the journey, we cannot see, How long it was planned and chartered by Him who knows our destiny.” (Unknown)
David Suggs, the youngest of seven siblings, was born in Calhoun City, Mississippi, on December 16, 1937, to the late Bishop and Thelma Woodward Suggs. He embraced his family’s values of belief in God, love of family and a quest for education. David received his religious training from his parents and committed his life to Christian service at an early age at the Piney Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Calhoun City, Mississippi.
The Suggs family were farmers. David was his father’s constant companion, assisting with the farm chores, feeding the animals, gathering the produce and, “the high of the week”, taking the cotton to the gin mill for processing.
In order for David and his siblings to receive an education, their parents allowed them to live with other family members and friends to attend Mississippi public schools outside of Calhoun City. As access to a quality education continued to persist for African Americans in Calhoun City, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, for better educational opportunities. David, his brother, Clarence, and sister, Janice, enrolled in Geeter High School. The family also united with Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where David attended Sunday School and served as a member of the Youth Usher Board.
After graduating from Geeter High School in 1957, David followed the path of his older brother, Clarence, and relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to find employment. His first job was at the “Town Room Restaurant “ and later he became employed, on the second shift, at the American Can Company, where he worked for thirty years, retiring as a Supervisor of warehouse/stock before the company closed. For an additional ten years, David was employed with security companies and provided security at the Wisconsin Electric Company, now “We Energies”.
Upon his arrival in Milwaukee, David joined the St. Matthew Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Rev. B.S. Gregg. Before his actual work shift began and on his days off, David assisted Rev. Gregg in the maintenance of the parsonage and the church. Later David was drafted into the United States Army and received his Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He received further Infantry Training in Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Fort Lewis in Seattle, Washington; and in Berlin, Germany. David was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army with a rank of Specialist 4th Class.
In1964, David returned to Memphis, Tennessee, and married his Junior High School sweetheart and ”Soul Mate“, Bobbie R. Phillips. They had kept in touch during David’s visits with his parents in Memphis during his vacations, and through years of letter writing and telephone calls. Following
their courthouse marriage, they began their life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shared fifty-seven years of a beautiful marriage. To this union two sons, Philip and Davin, were born
David was a kind, giving and supportive husband, dad, brother, uncle and friend. He was very friendly, and had a quiet demeanor, but his sense of humor and great wit made all who know or met him their cherished friend. He volunteered and supported whatever church and community-based organizations in which his wife and sons were involved. At St. Matthew C.M.E. Church, he was a member of the Adult Sunday School Class and a supporter of the Children’s Choir and the Missionary Society. In the Milwaukee community, David was an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and the Northwest and Northeast Little League Baseball Teams. His benevolent and compassionate spirit demonstrated his love and patience; and the discipline given his sons, nieces, nephews and friends were coupled with his insistency that they become productive independent, and caring individuals. Additionally, David was a sports enthusiast and always enjoyed watching his sons, as well as other professionals, participate in their athletic games. As an avid walker, he walked daily: in the mall, on the sidewalk, or in the house. Among his other pastimes, David enjoyed barbecuing on his Weber Grill (ribs and turkey were his specialties), bowling, pool shooting, and watching Western movies.
When David arrived at his celestial home on March
19, 2022, there to greet him with open arms were: his paternal grandparents, Jake and Hattie Suggs: maternal grandparents, David Woodward and Rena Isabell; parents, Bishop H. Suggs and Thelma Woodward Suggs; Siblings: Hattie Suggs Arrington, Mattie Suggs Buchanan, Bernice Suggs, and Janice Suggs Hardaway.
Fond memories of David will be cherished in the hearts of many. He leaves a loving wife, Bobbie, devoted sons, Philip, and Davin (Angela), precious granddaughter, Dillyn, all of Tallahassee, Florida; brother, Clarence Suggs, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Queen E. Yancy, Memphis, Tennessee; twelve “favorite” nieces; seven grand-nieces; five great grand-nieces; seven grand-nephews; five great grand-nephews, a host of cousins, and many treasured friends.
“For whether we live, we live unto The Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8)
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“Time is a ship on which we travel. How long the journey, we cannot see, How long it was planned and chartered by Him who knows our destiny.” (Unknown)
David Suggs, the youngest of seven siblings, was born in Calhoun City, Mississippi, on December 16, 1937, to the late Bishop and Thelma Woodward Suggs. He embraced his family’s values of belief in God, love of family and a quest for education. David received his religious training from his parents and committed his life to Christian service at an early age at the Piney Grove Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Calhoun City, Mississippi.
The Suggs family were farmers. David was his father’s constant companion, assisting with the farm chores, feeding the animals, gathering the produce and, “the high of the week”, taking the cotton to the gin mill for processing.
In order for David and his siblings to receive an education, their parents allowed them to live with other family members and friends to attend Mississippi public schools outside of Calhoun City. As access to a quality education continued to persist for African Americans in Calhoun City, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, for better educational opportunities. David, his brother, Clarence, and sister, Janice, enrolled in Geeter High School. The family also united with Greenwood Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where David attended Sunday School and served as a member of the Youth Usher Board.
After graduating from Geeter High School in 1957, David followed the path of his older brother, Clarence, and relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to find employment. His first job was at the “Town Room Restaurant “ and later he became employed, on the second shift, at the American Can Company, where he worked for thirty years, retiring as a Supervisor of warehouse/stock before the company closed. For an additional ten years, David was employed with security companies and provided security at the Wisconsin Electric Company, now “We Energies”.
Upon his arrival in Milwaukee, David joined the St. Matthew Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Rev. B.S. Gregg. Before his actual work shift began and on his days off, David assisted Rev. Gregg in the maintenance of the parsonage and the church. Later David was drafted into the United States Army and received his Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He received further Infantry Training in Fort Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Fort Lewis in Seattle, Washington; and in Berlin, Germany. David was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army with a rank of Specialist 4th Class.
In1964, David returned to Memphis, Tennessee, and married his Junior High School sweetheart and ”Soul Mate“, Bobbie R. Phillips. They had kept in touch during David’s visits with his parents in Memphis during his vacations, and through years of letter writing and telephone calls. Following
their courthouse marriage, they began their life together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shared fifty-seven years of a beautiful marriage. To this union two sons, Philip and Davin, were born
David was a kind, giving and supportive husband, dad, brother, uncle and friend. He was very friendly, and had a quiet demeanor, but his sense of humor and great wit made all who know or met him their cherished friend. He volunteered and supported whatever church and community-based organizations in which his wife and sons were involved. At St. Matthew C.M.E. Church, he was a member of the Adult Sunday School Class and a supporter of the Children’s Choir and the Missionary Society. In the Milwaukee community, David was an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and the Northwest and Northeast Little League Baseball Teams. His benevolent and compassionate spirit demonstrated his love and patience; and the discipline given his sons, nieces, nephews and friends were coupled with his insistency that they become productive independent, and caring individuals. Additionally, David was a sports enthusiast and always enjoyed watching his sons, as well as other professionals, participate in their athletic games. As an avid walker, he walked daily: in the mall, on the sidewalk, or in the house. Among his other pastimes, David enjoyed barbecuing on his Weber Grill (ribs and turkey were his specialties), bowling, pool shooting, and watching Western movies.
When David arrived at his celestial home on March
19, 2022, there to greet him with open arms were: his paternal grandparents, Jake and Hattie Suggs: maternal grandparents, David Woodward and Rena Isabell; parents, Bishop H. Suggs and Thelma Woodward Suggs; Siblings: Hattie Suggs Arrington, Mattie Suggs Buchanan, Bernice Suggs, and Janice Suggs Hardaway.
Fond memories of David will be cherished in the hearts of many. He leaves a loving wife, Bobbie, devoted sons, Philip, and Davin (Angela), precious granddaughter, Dillyn, all of Tallahassee, Florida; brother, Clarence Suggs, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Queen E. Yancy, Memphis, Tennessee; twelve “favorite” nieces; seven grand-nieces; five great grand-nieces; seven grand-nephews; five great grand-nephews, a host of cousins, and many treasured friends.
“For whether we live, we live unto The Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s (Romans 14:8)
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Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
27
Mar
3:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Bruton Mortuary
635 Bruton Street
Bainbridge, GA 39819
Graveside
Monday
28
Mar
12:00 PM
Tallahassee National Cemetery
5015 Apalachee Pkwy
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Cemetery Details
Location
Tallahassee National Cemetery
5015 Apalachee Pkwy
Tallahassee, FL 32311
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