Susan English Obituary

Susan Carol English, 73, passed away June 17, 2025.  She was born the daughter of Thomas and Cleo (Mullins) Elliott in Norton, Virginia, on January 1, 1952.  In 1954, her family moved to Hampton, Virginia, where she would live the majority of her life.  She married William Monroe English on October 4, 1968.  They were married for 56 years when William died less than 3 months prior on March 23 of this year.

Although she hadn’t lived in Appalachia since she was two, the mountains were an integral part of her identity: the culture, the people, the music and the food. She enjoyed conversation and never met a stranger. In 1984, she and Bill opened Wayside Garden Center which they operated for 17 years. During this time, they both became an important part of the local community. In addition to Wayside, she worked with multiple employers over the years as a medical transcriptionist and an office manager.  

The main love of her life was her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Through lengthy phone calls, family gatherings, and time spent around her kitchen table, she has also been a mother figure to a multitude of nieces, nephews, and friends who have all loved and respected her.

Susan is survived by her daughter, Donna English (Richard Wilcox); grandchildren, Adrienne (Chris) Stadler, Logan Withrow, Jacob Wilcox and Rachel Wilcox; great-grandson, River Stadler; and sister-in-law, Gayle (Dennis) Cozzens. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, her son, Christopher Bryan, who died as an infant, and her five brothers, Tom, Joe, James, Bill, and Steven Elliott.

A funeral service will be at 10:00 am on Monday, June 23rd with visitation an hour before at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave, Hampton, Virginia, with Rev Dr. Richard Wilcox officiating.  Interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Park in Hampton.