Susan Georgine Whitleff, 43, was born to George and Helen Whitleff in Batesville, Mississippi. George was a deputy sheriff in Panola County, and Helen was a homemaker.
Susan had a typical childhood in a loving family until her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when Susan was ten. Susan would have devoted all her out-of-school time caring for her mother, but her parents insisted that she continue to spend time with her friends and on her schoolwork.
Helen died when Susan was 12, and even though they had tried to prepare themselves, the following year was naturally challenging. George stayed close to his daughter despite his busy work schedule, and Susan thrived under his care.
When her high school friends were engrossed in dates and boys, Susan was dreaming about attending the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Her father had been saving for Susan's college education, even through his wife's illness and death. With her father's help, student loans, and working part-time, she felt sure she could swing it.
After graduation, while Susan was making plans to move to Oxford, George was killed in the line of duty when he responded to a domestic disturbance call. Feeling very alone, Susan decided to move to Oxford anyway and work for a year to save money for tuition.
She found a job at the Square Books store, where the owners loved her because, despite her grief, she was always friendly and helpful with customers and co-workers. She read whenever possible so she could answer shoppers' questions, and return customers sought her out when they needed assistance.
Late in the summer, Gerard Dubois came into the store and was instantly attracted to Susan's wonderful smile and pleasant manner. He always described their first encounter as "love at first sight."
Gerard was unlike anyone Susan had ever met. The son of a well-to-do family with cotton holdings in Greenville, Mississippi, he was confident, considerate, and wonderful to be with. They became constant companions and married six months later.
Susan never regretted giving up college for her Prince Charming. They settled in Oxford, and Gerard traveled often to Greenville to tend to his family's business interests. They were thrilled when their daughter, Barbara, was born.
Just two years later, Gerard was killed in an auto accident while driving home from Greenville. Susan was a widow at 22 and once again had to face the heartbreak of a loved one's death.
She approached single parenthood with a focus that could sometimes be smothering, but Barbara seemed to thrive. Susan vowed she would make sure her daughter had opportunities that she didn't, and she maintained that attitude even when money got tight.
She worked two jobs, leveraged the insurance money, and mortgaged and re-mortgaged their home to pay for all the necessary lessons and wardrobe to make her daughter successful on the pageant circuit.
She hired Marty "Slim" Rutgers to coach Barbara. They worked together for years until Rutgers abruptly stopped coaching Barbara when she was 14. Thereafter, he was simply named as a "consultant" in Barbara's press releases and applications.
Susan's few close friends spoke of her devotion to Barbara and her fear that she would be left alone and penniless. Despite that, Susan never remarried, and after some disastrous matchmaking attempts by friends, backed away from dating. Instead, she dedicated herself to her daughter's happiness and success.
