Susan Bateman Obituary

Susan Jane Wingate, born in Nashville, Tennessee to Evelyn Blanton and James Angus Wingate Jr., passed away, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service. She attended East Nashville High School and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1969 with a major in English and a minor in Speech. Moving to Memphis that same year, Suzi became part of the first integrated teaching faculty at Vance Junior High School. She earned her master's degree in reading education from Memphis State University in 1971.

In 1972, Suzi moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she taught at Oak Ridge High School and was named Special Education Teacher of the Year in 1975. She earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee shortly thereafter.

Suzi had her first child, Jeremy, in 1977, and in 1980, she gave birth to James. The family moved to the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she worked as a Consultant for Special Needs for Horry County Schools and later at Georgetown High School Career Center. In 1992, she became the Coordinator of Special Education for Georgetown County, eventually rising to Director of Special Education.

In 2005, Suzi married John Wood Bateman, her great love, who sadly passed away in 2009. She retired to care for him during his illness. Suzi was an active member of Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church and became a Stephen Minister in 2009. She moved to Pawleys Island in 2018 to be closer to her church community.

Suzi is survived by her sons, James and Jeremy, sister Patty, brother-in-law Billy, nephew Alex, and granddaughters Sasha and Misha. Suzi will be remembered for her humor, excellence, and unwavering commitment to helping others.