My friend, Mitzi Suggs, died on January 25. She was not quite 62. She hadn't been well in a long time, and her life had been hard. The latest illness was lung cancer. She had always been a heavy smoker. Her doctors had tried a blood transfusion to help her. Apparently transfusions sometimes make a big difference, but it didn't this time. She collapsed soon after the transfusion and was never able to recover.
I first met Mitzi around 1971 when she and Frank( her husband at the time) moved in next door to us in Goldsboro, NC. Jim and Frank were in the Air Force. We quickly became friends as we had children about the same age. Jon was about a year old, and Mitzi's daughters, Gina and Kandi, were just a little older. Her son, Chris, was about 5 at the time. Mitzi kept Jon for me while I taught school. It was certainly convenient and Jon loved her.
We moved from Goldsboro when Jon was about 2 1/2, and Mitzi and Frank went to Turkey and then to California. We kept in touch, but as lives got busier, it wasn't as much as we would have liked. Still, when we got together again, we picked up right where we left off.
Eventually, Mitzi left Frank and moved to Charlotte when the kids were in early high school. We saw more of each other then, but we lived on opposite sides of town and most of our connection was over the phone. She met Jimmy Suggs, married him and helped him with his business. Gina became terminally ill and she spent a lot of emotional reserves in her care. It was after Gina's death that Mitzi's health began to deteriorate. I think she grieved a lot, but when I would talk to her she was always upbeat. The last conersation I had with her was a couple of months before she died. Kandi had called me to tell me of her lung cancer. I knew Mitzi would never tell me so I called to let her know I knew. We had a great conversation, laughing over things that happened in the long ago times of our youths. She never felt sorry for herself, and kept whatever feelings she had inside her immediate family. Not all things were good for her, but she always maintained a positive attitude. Even though I was not a very attentive friend, I always loved her and I will always remember her as a special part of my life. Rest in peace, Mitzi. You deserve it.
