Susan Gilchrist

Susan C. Gilchrist, “lovingly known as Ms. Top” was born on April 14, 1924 in Edgefield, South Carolina to the late Henry and Lucille Curry; preceded in death by her siblings, Harrison Curry, Elliott Curry, Ella Garvin, Rosa Jackson, and Mary Curry. She was reared in the era of the “Great Depression” and the post slavery period where sharecropping, cotton-planting and picking was the predominant means and source of survival. She spent her early childhood and teen years living on what she referred to as a “farm” in which black families would rent small plots of land from the landowner with an agreement to work on the land picking cotton in the fields, maintaining the  property, and doing other household chores for the farm’s owners in exchange for a portion of the crops earnings at the end of year and a place to live and raise their families. Susan later moved to Suffolk, Virginia in the mid 1960’s and became a member of Pleasant Union Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Vaurice T. Chambers who is still the presiding pastor. She was a very active member up until 2006 after she could no longer physically attend. During that time, she served on the Deacon Board, Pastor’s Aide Committee, the Women’s Fellowship Board, Usher Board, and Missionary Board. The members of the Missionary Board would now have communion with her in her home as she had affectionately done so for many others. Some of her past time enjoyments were gardening, listening to music, cooking, and baking cakes. She adopted the entrepreneurial spirit and became known in the community as the “Snowball Lady” because she would prepare and sell snowballs, frozen cups, candy, and other sweet treats to the neighborhood children in the Summer. She worked at Darden & Sons Egg Plant and later Planters Peanut. Susan leaves to cherish her memory 4 sons, Squire Shedrick (Anita-preceded in death) of Salters, South Carolina), John Gilchrist (Dorian) of Washington, D.C., Samuel Gilchrist of Baltimore, MD., Donald Gilchrist (Angelia) of Suffolk, Va., and 4 daughters, Mary Knight (Walter) of Suffolk, Va., Barbara Ann Massenburg of Suffolk, Va., Alice Mae Cobb (Wayne) of Suffolk, VA.,  Linda Massenburg (Rob-preceded in death),  and daughter, Lucille Gilchrist,  who preceded her in death. A combined total of 100+ Grand Children, Great-Grand Children, Great, Great-Grand Children, and Great, Great, Great-Grand Children of which she has been a part of 5 generations and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. A celebration of life will be held noon, Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Pleasant Union Baptist Church, 215 Webb Street, Suffolk, Virginia. She will be laid t rest in Holly Lawn Cemetery, 1525 Main Street, Suffolk, Virginia. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Susan Gilchrist, please visit our flower store.