My dear friend, Susie Gates.  She was a planner.  If you would call her on the spur of the moment and ask her for a recipe, she would know it by memory. If you were planning a dinner party, she could tell you how much tea to make and how many gallons of vegetables to have.  And, the amazing thing is that she didn't have to look it up, she knew it.  I have planned many events with her wisdom and her help.  I will miss being able to give her a call and just to talk.  She was always a joy to know.  Even when she was not feeling well, she had time to talk.

I remember when Grand Parkway Church would have BBQ sales at the Kroger parking lot.  When Girls Ministries had that month, I would sit down with Susie and she would tell me exactly what to do.  How to choose a good brisket by folding it in half and tell me how it should feel.  Funny, but it works.  She would tell me where to get the supplies and then she would ask what she could do to help.  Of course, me wanting to not bother her, I would say you have done enough.  Then she would say what she could do.  She would call up her contacts and friends and get orders over the phone for me.  She would make appointments on when we could deliver some BBQ to them or let them know that we would be there for them to come by and we would have their orders ready.  What a blessing it was.

Susie,  I am sure that Jesus has some special jobs for you to do now that you have a new body and no more pain and discomfort.  You are amazing and you will be missed so much.  I am just glad that we will be together again someday.  Until then, I  Love you, girlfriend.

Wanda Collins