WILMINGTON — Suzanne Elizabeth Huband Spivey was born in Greenville, NC, the second child of Earl Carlton Huband, Jr. (1919-1962) and Elizabeth Brown Huband (1924-2016). As a child, Suzanne was outgoing and fun-loving and had a knack for making friends easily. She remained outgoing and social throughout her life.
Growing up in Wilmington, NC, Suzanne spent all twelve years in New Hanover County schools: Forest Hills Elementary, Chestnut Street Junior High, and New Hanover High. After graduating in 1967, she attended Wilmington College (now UNC-Wilmington) before switching schools to study accounting and finance at Miller-Motte Technical College, from which she graduated with an Associate degree in Accounting.
Sue, as she was known to her friends, worked at a variety of jobs in early adulthood before choosing mental health as her vocation: working first at Southeastern Mental Health Center’s Development, Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (1985-2003); and afterwards, until retirement, at Community Support Professionals, which provided help for Wilmington area residents with severe and persistent mental illness.
Sue became a life-long fan of Elvis Presley at age 13, and she collected Elvis memorabilia. In her spare time, she loved to garden and, especially at Christmas, bake cookies for family and friends. She regularly sent care packages to her ailing brother George in his later years; and, in her own last years, she opened her home to her sister Barbara. Sue often hosted gatherings of family and friends in her back yard, and she especially looked forward to family holiday gatherings.
Suzanne is survived by both of her children: Earl Carlton Spivey [Lynda] and Gwendolyn Spivey Sewell [Charles]; four grandchildren: William Chambers [Stephanie], Carlton Chambers, Austin Jacobs, and Heather Stiller; and three great-grandchildren: Hudson Chambers, Kennedi Chambers, and Sekani Chambers MacKinnon.
Sadly, Suzanne’s youngest sibling, George Joseph Huband, predeceased her by only five weeks. Suzanne is survived by brothers Earl Carlton Huband III [Priscilla] and Robert Kimley (“Kim”) Huband [Jane]; sisters Barbara Brown Huband and Mary Huband Duddy [Patrick]; and three aunts: Viola McMillan, Ann Nixon, and Carol Brown; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
On January 31, 2025, prior to Suzanne’s burial, a visitation will be held at Wilmington’s Andrews Mortuary & Crematory, located at 1617 Market Street, starting at 12:00pm; followed at 1:00pm by a funeral service, to be led by Reverend Brad McDowell, in the Andrews Mortuary Chapel.
The pallbearers for Suzanne’s service will be William Chambers, Carlton Chambers, Jay Chambers, Robert Pridgen, Charles Sewell, and Troy Brown.
Following Suzanne’s service, attendees may proceed to Wilmington’s Bellevue Cemetery, located at 1793 Princess Place Drive, where Suzanne will be reunited with her deceased parents and her brother George.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to do so to donate to a charity of their own choice in memory of Suzanne.
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