- Date Of Birth: November 11, 1934
- Date Of Death: October 3, 2015
- State: Georgia
Susie Arnall Mann Thomasson left her earthly home October 3, 2015 to become enveloped by those beloveds who preceded her. Born the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1934, she is cherished by her lifelong sweetheart and husband, Dr. James J. Thomasson, Jr.
Sharing this love are their four children Myrtle Mildred Thomasson Gosch (Andy), Emeline Mann Thomasson Loughlin (Edward), James Jefferson Thomasson III (Jennifer), and Alton Arnall Thomasson. Joyfully added to this number are her grandchildren Katie Arnall Sale Salsi (Beau), Ronald Steven Sale, Andrew Finley Gosch, Jr., Edward Christopher Forbes Loughlin, Jr., Evan Wirt Thomasson Loughlin, James Jefferson Thomasson IV, and Cheney Virginia Thomasson. Susie’s relatives were central participants in mills, manufacturing, and farming throughout Coweta County after the Civil War. Noted for their care and praise of mill employees, relatives modeled love in caring for others, instilled most earnestly by her mother whose life purpose was serving her community and church stretching to missions abroad.
In this environment as an only child, living like a princess might have been an outlook for Susie as she was embraced by her mother’s only sister, Mildred Arnall Penniston, and aunt Katie Arnall Freeman, who served as a mother figure to the sisters who lost their mother in early childhood. However, modesty and anonymity were the bedrock sustaining her path in life. Reared in the public schools of Newnan, Georgia, her lifelong home, Susie caught the eye of a fellow pupil at age five. Jimmy Thomasson was the only boy she ever knew romantically; and she found her way to the dance floor with him during lessons in elementary school, chatting with him despite the warning eye of the Newnan High librarian, wearing his corsage at proms, and proudly displaying his football on a neck chain. From the time of their meeting, they were always spoken of as “Susie and Jimmy.” Separated only by college, Jimmy at Emory, Susie at Breneau, the romance strengthened. On weekends when Jimmy would take the bus to Gainesville and board across the street from the Delta Delta Delta sorority house.
Susie served as president of the group as well as membership in the honor society HDH for two years. After graduation, Jimmy and Susie married at her parents’ home on June 30, 1956. Until Jimmy left for medical school at Emory, they attended the couples’ Sunday School class that her mother taught at Central Baptist Church, a central element in Susie’s life. During Jimmy’s time at Emory, Susie taught school for two years in Decatur. After surgical residency and a time in the Navy, the Thomassons returned to Newnan with their three young children, followed by Alton in 1972, thus beginning another phase of her life, service to her community. With some reluctance Susie accepted her mother’s declaration, “You have been asked to do something for your community,” and chaired organizing the Pink Ladies of Newnan Hospital for several years. In addition to her support of her church, Susie was on the board of directors to establish Newnan’s Mainstreet, Downtown Development Authority as well as the organizing board for Wesley Woods. Newnan’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 1978 merited her participation in a quiet and efficient manner. Perhaps her greatest allegiance and Jimmy’s was the founding of The Heritage School along with friends Carolyn and Guy Arnall and Evelyn and Will Haugen. Since Susie and Jimmy had pleasant experiences in a private school in Jacksonville, they possessed insight of its value. Susie’s family touched the creation of the school by her aunt Katie Freeman’s gift of a pecan orchard to serve as its setting.
Until her death, “Aunt Katie” had her chauffeur. Aaron drives her to the school for the pleasure of watching the students. The school opened in 1970, one of only seven in the country with tax-exempt status. The first year boasted 11 teachers, 134 students, and 8 grades. In addition to founding support, Susie headed up the Parents’ Club to encourage and organize multiple activities to highlight her pride in Heritage. Two relaxing sports punctuated her social time: bridge and fishing. She enjoyed bridge lessons in several locales as well as energetically participating in its play at least twice a week, even as her eyesight faltered. Fishing could be traced to childhood as her aunt Mildred (Bunny) insisted that she bait her own hook and remove the captured fish. Later, her father instructed her in fly fishing. This pleasure was shared with her grandchildren. Since she always landed the largest specimen, grandson Evan thought his mount was the finer until his grandmother claimed prized space at their pond cottage. Perhaps “mother” was her greatest pleasure and achievement. As Susie noted that her own mother was active, Myrtle Mann still found time for Susie and her interests, insisting on daily “life lessons” at the dining room table. Susie continued that same care for her two daughters and sons. She listened for the door to open in the afternoon as they rushed in to describe the school day. She, too, insisted on the fair play as well as sharp-eyed attention to detail, be it proper manners or business matters. Later “Susie” and “Papa” found ample audience in their grandchildren, quietly insisting, often with humor, that they tow the mark.
