Dorene Sugg of Roswell, Georgia, passed from this life on August 10, 2014 following a brief illness at the age of 95. She was comforted and surrounded by family at the time of her death. The funeral service will be at Roswell Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 12th at 11:00 AM. Burial will be at the Elmwood Cemetery in Town Creek, AL at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, August 13th, 2014.
Julia Dorene was born to Sherman S. and Mattie Sue Armstrong Knouff on September 5, 1918. Woodrow Wilson was president that year and World War I was coming to a close. The eldest of three children, she grew up in Town Creek, AL and later graduated from David Lipscomb College. She married Cullen Sugg in 1943. As a devoted wife and mother, she served as a children’s Sunday School teacher at the Town Creek Church of Christ for many years. She also worked as a substitute teacher at Hazlewood Elementary, volunteered as a cub scout den mother, and supported the family’s cotton farm. She moved to Roswell in 2000 and became actively involved at North Atlanta Church of Christ. She was a resident at Freedom Point Assisted Living in Roswell since 2011.
Mrs. Sugg was a joyful, kind and loving lady who offered charm and grace to everyone who knew her. She is survived by her son Joe and spouse, Melissa, of Alpharetta, GA, and her son John and spouse, Janet, of Hartselle, AL; her grandchildren are Ben Sugg (spouse, Amber), Charleston, SC; Betsy Gardner (spouse, Rick), Cumming, GA; John Cullen Sugg (spouse, Jennie), Athens, AL; Sam Sugg, Decatur, AL and Peter Sugg, Hartselle, AL; her great-grandchildren are Jack Sugg and Zachary Gardner.
Mrs. Sugg was born September 5th, 1918 in Town Creek to Sherman S. and Mattie Sue Armstrong Knouff. She was the eldest of three children, growing up in Town Creek, AL. She told the story of when she and her family drove to the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933. She was so excited for the adventure but developed a bug during the long drive from home, so when they finally arrived she begged them to leave her to rest in the backseat of the car! Ever optimistic and cheery, she always retold the story with a smile on her face, like the World’s Fair wasn’t really that impressive any way.
She went to David Lipscomb College in Nashville, TN and graduated from a two-year program in 1938. Afterwards she returned to Alabama and held various jobs throughout World War II. During that time she decided to visit a gentleman suitor so her mother accompanied her on a train ride to see him. However, she met a fellow passenger on that train named Cullen Sugg, and when her stop came she decided to ride along further to continue her time with this handsome soldier instead. They were married on April 7th, 1943, and remained sweethearts for 69 years until Cullen passed in 2012.
She was grateful and excited to finally become a mother when her son, Joe, was born in 1954. Two years later she had another son, John, and she dearly loved caring for them. She always had a gift for connecting with children – in fact her first name, Julia, means “youthful” and she lived up to the calling. She used her talents to volunteer as a Cub Scout den mother, work as a substitute teacher at Hazlewood Elementary, and serve as a children’s Sunday School teacher at Town Creek Church of Christ. Later, when her grandchildren came along, she continued to thrill them with stories and songs she knew by heart, laughter and play that made everyone smile. Her philosophy: the bowl of snap peas will wait if someone wants to start a game of Rummy.
When Cullen and Dorene moved to Atlanta in 2000, they bravely left the home they knew and began a new chapter of life in Georgia. In only a short time they invested in new friends at North Atlanta Church of Christ where they became actively involved in the Fresh Faith class. Dorene’s kind spirit, charming smile and faithful heart helped them quickly develop meaningful friendships in their new home, and those friends continued to bless her even until her passing.
In the last few days of Dorene’s life, she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren who all had opportunity to tell her what a wonderful blessing she had been to each of them. When asked what could be read to her as she rested peacefully, she asked for Psalm 37 and some favorite poetry. We gladly obliged.
Dorene Sugg was a joyful, kind and loving lady who offered charm and grace to everyone who knew her. When she entered heaven on August 10th, 2014, we were sad to lose her warmth and smile, but truly we are comforted to know that she is with the Lord and has unending joy to celebrate now.
