Lillie Bedsaul

ANNOUNCEMENT Lillie Suedel Stoneman (Wagoner) Bedsaul, known to many as "Mama Sue," passed away on the morning of Friday, January 14th, 2011 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby, NC from complications related to advanced Parkinson's Disease and respiratory problems. She was 75 years old. She had lived near Mooresboro, NC since 1976, but was a resident at White Oaks Manor in Shelby, NC for the last 18 months. PLACES OF RESIDENCE Galax, VA 1935 – 1953 and 1983 Winston-Salem, NC/Lewisville, NC 1954-1972 Boiling Springs, NC 1972-1973 Spindale, NC 1974 -1976 Mooresboro, NC/Shelby, NC 1976 -2011 LIFE Suedel was born September 19, 1935 in the Pipers Gap community near Galax, Virginia, youngest daughter of Coy Bruce Stoneman and Lemma Joyner Stoneman, both deceased. Suedel spent her childhood on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Carroll County, Virginia. Her mother, Lemma died when Suedel was an infant and her older sister, Eloise Elizabeth Stoneman died as a young girl, struck down by one of the very first automobiles driven in Galax, Virginia. Suedel grew up with two older brothers, Bruce and Newell, her father, Coy and her Aunt Maude, who came to help care for the family after the her mother's death. Suedel's family lived fairly well, on fairly limited means, through the Great Depression, growing their own food, raising chickens, selling milk and produce, making their own clothes, putting up hay and so forth. "Making do" with what they had also served them well through the rationing period of WWII. Being a hard worker was expected in Suedel's family. Anyone who knew her could attest that she never lost that trait. MARRIAGES Suedel married Herbert Alan Wagoner in October 14th, 1956 at Lewisville Baptist Church, near Winston-Salem, NC. They courted after meeting on a blind double date that was intended to set up two of their friends as a couple. They had two children, Robert and Judy, before Alan's sudden death on April 18th, 1963, leaving her a widow with two children under the age of five. On October 16th, 1983, she married William David "Bill" Bedsaul at Sandy Run Baptist Church, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant who had been her high school sweetheart before their careers took them in different directions. They met again at a 30-year high school reunion and fell deeply in love all over again. They were together more than 27 years. Bill cared for her in their home for as long as was humanly possible and continued near daily visits to her at White Oak Manor during her long illness. As featured years ago in a local newspaper, Bill was always her "knight in shining armor." EDUCATION Although her father was only able to complete five years of school, he always stressed the value of education. Suedel graduated as Valedictorian from Woodlawn High School, Class of 1953. She went on to graduate Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Winston-Salem, NC, as a Registered Nurse, earning her tuition by working on the hospital wards at night and going to classes by day. In 1972, Suedel felt the Lord's called to work in Baptist Home Missions with children. She took a "leap of faith" and moved with her children to Boiling Springs, NC to attend Gardner-Webb College. At age 37, she was quickly adopted as a "Mom away from home" and mentor by her fellow students, earning her the nickname, "Mama Sue." Many of those students went on to become pastors and missionaries, but have stayed in touch with her, bringing their children to meet their unofficial "Grandma Suedel." EMPLOYMENT Suedel worked as a Registered Nurse for over 35 years, in a wide variety of nursing roles and settings: in a premature nursery, as a surgical scrub nurse, in a pediatrician's office, at a children's residential mental health facility "The Kid's Place" in Forest City, NC, in Green's (Rutherford Co.) and other nursing homes. In the mid 1970's Suedel opened Rose-dell Daycare Center in her home in response to the need for round-the-clock availability of care for workers from PPG Industries. She provided care for families who worked on a swing-shift schedule and even helped set up a small church (Rose-Dell Baptist Church) in her home to allow parents an informal place to attend services just before or just after their weekend shifts. She later worked as third shift Charge Nurse, at Royster and then Crawley Hospital in Boiling Springs, NC. Often the only Registered Nurse on duty for a 40 to 60-bed hospital that had an Emergency Room, Labor and Delivery, and every other condition you might treat in a larger hospital, and no doctors on-site. She also worked in several departments and units at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. As full-time nursing became too demanding physically, Suedel shared her wealth of nursing experience at Cleveland Community College by training Certified Nurse's Aides. Her reputation for high standards and rigorous training virtually guaranteed immediate employment for her students. But beyond that, she also taught her students about nursing as a vocation rather than simply as a job, emphasizing the healing role of a caring, gentle touch, the role of faith and prayer in healing, and how to be show compassion to patient's families. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT AND VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY Even growing up, Suedel was very active in church activities at Oakland United Methodist Church, in Woodlawn, VA, where her mother founded the Sunday School and her father helped build the church building. While at Lewisville Baptist Church, near Winston-Salem, NC, Suedel sang in the choir, led the Youth Group, Children's Choir, and Women's Missionary Union. She served on the Music Director Search Committee and on the Building Committee, organizing fundraising efforts for the large expansion of the sanctuary wing in the early 1970's. Because of financial constraints, Suedel was unable to complete her Bachelor's degree in Religious Education at Gardner Webb College. In 1974, Suedel moved to Spindale to head their children's ministries at Main Street Baptist Church, (at the time, a mission church) in Spindale, NC. She used everything she had learned at Garner-Webb to make a tremendous impact through a very effective bus outreach that grew into a thriving Vacation Bible School and Children's Church program. Later, in response to community needs, she set up and directed a low-income Day Care Center at the church, working without pay for over two years, a widow living on Social Security, surely a prolonged "leap of faith". Suedel has always enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening loved to share what she could with neighbors. She would save small glass ketchup bottles and decorate them with silver foil and pretty ribbons as bud vases to take roses and fresh produce from her garden to shut-ins in the community. A wonderful cook, with recipes featured in the Mooresboro Women's Club's Cookbook, she always loved baking for people and never thought she had fed you enough if you had not popped a button or two. An avid seamstress, she made hundreds of stuffed toys, tablecloths, layette blankets, and lap robes, often as gifts of comfort for families in times of hardship. Moving to the Shelby area in 1976, Suedel became an energetic leader in the Sandy Run Women's Missionary Union. She served as Camp Nurse during summers at Camp Mundo Vista and helped lead a mission trip to Alaska. She was founding Vice President of the North Carolina Baptist Nursing Fellowship, organized to promote and coordinate nursing support to missions and relief efforts and was the second President of that organization. She worked as a trainer and disaster responder for the American Red Cross, in part as a tribute to her dear Aunt Rosetta who had been a "Gray Lady" with the Red Cross in World War II. She also administered vaccinations for National Guard units, monitored blood pressure, and helped with wound care for neighbors. She also worked briefly as a volunteer Hospice nurse. With a lovely soprano voice, Suedel sang in church choirs all her life and loved to play the piano or keyboard. She and her husband, Bill Bedsaul, entertained seniors for years at the Shelby Senior Center and local nursing homes with their "Hat Box" routine, changing characters by changing hats for skits and singing old, familiar songs. Suedel only slowed down as severe Parkinson's Disease progressively limited her physical abilities. Even then, she offered support to others with this disease and provided information about new treatment options and resources through the Life Enrichment Center and other community contacts. Three words that sum up the life of Suedel Bedsaul Faith - Service - Love Special Thanks To every staff member at White Oaks Manor in Shelby, NC who provided Suedel a home-away-from-home for the last 18 months, for their hard work and gentle hands. God Bless You. FAMILY - Survived by: Husband: William "Bill" Bedsaul of Shelby, NC - husband Son: Robert Alan Wagoner and wife Pat Jervison of Durham, NC Daughter: Judy Anne Wagoner Skinner and her husband Kenji Skinner of Erie, PA Step-son: William David Bedsaul, Jr. of the Raleigh-Durham, NC area Step-daughter: Tracey Ann Bedsaul of Santa-Barbara, CA Grandsons: Cullen Skinner, age 18 and Morgen Skinner, age 16, of Erie, PA Step-Granddaughter: Bridget Bedsaul, age 17, of Santa Barbara, CA Sister-in-Law: Sammie Rakes Stoneman of Galax, VA Sister-in-Law: Opal Speas Stoneman of Winston-Salem, NC Sister-in-Law: Betty Moore Bedsaul of Cana, VA Sister-in-Law: Dorothy Lee Williams and husband Perry Williams of Woodlawn, VA Niece: Jamie, and husband Fleming Castlebury of Winston-Salem, NC Niece: Jewel, husband Andy Dick and daughter Angela of Augusta, GA Niece: Linda Richardson and son Steven of Woodlawn and Piper's Gap, VA Nephews: James, Russ, Keith, and Joe Wilson, originally of Lewisville, NC FAMILY - Predeceased by: Husband: Herbert Alan Wagoner of Lewisville, NC Brother: Bruce Stoneman of Galax, VA Brother: James Newell Stoneman of Winston-Salem, NC Step-son: Bodie Bedsaul, of the Topeka, Kansas area Step-daughter: Shandy Bedsaul of Santa Barbara, CA Aunt and Uncle: Curtis and Lena Smith of Woodlawn, VA - who helped raise Suedel after her mother died Aunt: Maude Stoneman of Woodlawn, VA - who helped raise Suedel after her mother died Sister-in-Law: Betty Wilson and James O. Wilson of Lewisville, NC SERVICE On Monday, January 17th, family will receive friends at Cleveland Funeral Services, 2518 W. Dixon Blvd, Shelby, NC from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Phone 704-487-5811 On Wednesday, January 19th, the family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 AM, with the Funeral Service following at 11:00 AM at Vaughn-Guynn Funeral Home, located at 201 West Center Street, Galax, Virginia. Phone: 276-236-2442 Dr. Eric Davis (pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Shelby, NC) will officiate at the Funeral Service. Graveside service will follow at Oakland United Methodist Church, Woodlawn, VA Cemetery with burial in the Stoneman Family plot. Donations to the Cemetery Fund at Oakland United Methodist Church would be appreciated in lieu of flowers. Memorial donation suggestions: Oakland United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund 4987 Pipers Gap Rd, Galax, VA 24333-5736 Phone: (276) 236-8511 ‎ American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/donateonlinenow/index or contact American Cancer Society Charlotte Office, 6000 Fairview Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone: 704-552-6147 National Parkinson Foundation https://www2.parkinson.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=743 National Parkinson Foundation Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018 Phone: 1-800-32-4545 Cleveland County Chapter of the American Red Cross 1333 Fallston Rd., HW 18 N. Shelby, NC 28150 Phone: 704-487-8594 http://american.redcross.org/carolinapiedmont