Our loving mother, grandmother and best friend, Suzanne (Suzie) Smith Crawford passed away on July 14, 2026. She chose to donate her body to LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, Louisiana in hopes that their study will help other generations to come. Suzie was born on June 6, 1943, to Clayton Francis and Mildred (Mickie) Smith in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended school in Sicily Island, Louisiana and graduated in 1961. She was a cheerleader and the valedictorian of her class. She graduated from Northeast State College with a B. S. and a master’s degree in education. She was a librarian and English teacher at Sterlington High School for 36 years. Susie was listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. One notable local historical project, her 9th and 10th-grade English students conducted intensive community research and documentation on the historic Bartholomew Cemetery in Ouachita Parish. Upon her retirement in 2002, she dedicated her extra time to working part time for the Ouachita Parish Public Library.

She was preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, William (Bill) Crawford, Sr. and her parents, Clayton Francis and Mildred (Mickie) Farmer Smith.

Suzie leaves behind on this earth the other part of her heart, her two sons, William Carroll Crawford, Jr. (Billy) and John Kevin Crawford (Kevin), two granddaughters Katherine Elizabeth (Katie) and Sydney. One step grandson, Tyler Taunton and two step great grandsons Gavin and Grant Taunton; her older sister, Frances Thurman and younger brother, William Smith.

In the words of her granddaughter, Katie, who wrote, I saw a quote the other day that said, “If you’ve ever had someone who stood at the door and waved until you were out of sight, then you know what love looks like” and I immediately thought back to my grandparents standing in their driveway in Louisiana waving every time we left. I loved watching them until I couldn’t see them anymore, and I was always excited for when we would be back. Unfortunately growing up means realizing you don’t always go back and even when you do it isn’t the same. My grandmother joined my grandfather today after living over four years on this side of heaven without him. She talked of him often and it was always hard to know she wasn’t the same without him. I’m thankful she was able to go without much suffering and that I will eventually see them both one day.

Moma, we miss you deeply. You were the most incredible mother anyone could hope for every moment we shared. Your love, strength, and kindness will continue to guide us every day. The lessons you taught and the warmth you gave will always live in our hearts. Moma, you were our world and we do not know how we will carry on without you, but we will pull from the examples you set and we will be eternally grateful that God chose you for our mother. We will love you always. Our comfort now is that you and daddy are together in heaven sitting side by side and Daddy is asleep in the chair.

A Celebration of Life will be held at North Monroe Baptist Church on August 30, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will take place from 2:00 p.m. until service time.