It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Susan Butler Burdick, 80, of Chamblee, GA due to a long illness. Born December 9, 1940 in Akron, OH to parents Whitney Butler and Thelma Haslett, Susan attended Edgewater High School in Orlando, FL from 1955-1958. She then continued to higher education at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL where she was a B.S. Education-Recreation major, graduating in 1962. She then attended Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where she received a master’s degree in Recreation & Park Administration in 1966.
Susan began her career with the Tallahassee Recreation Department from 1962-1963, then served as a dorm counselor at Indiana University from 1965-1966. She was with the Department of Parks & Recreation in Detroit, MI from 1966-1968. Susan then served as program supervisor for the recreation department in Ocala, FL and as general manager for the North Brevard Park & Recreation Commission. From 1973-1978 she served as director of Georgia Special Olympics, Recreation Planning Section, Department of Natural Resources where she directed statewide programs of sports training and athletic competition for 23,000 mentally challenged persons.
Susan received accolades from the Atlanta Track Club for her outstanding performance in promoting track and field in 1975. She was nominated to Who’s Who in American Women in 1977, 1978 and Southern Region Representative for Special Olympics National Advisory Council from 1978-1979. She was also an account executive for Atlanta Foods International. She was also a member of Delta, Delta, Delta Sorority, Recreational Vehicle Women, GA Women Fly Fishers, Smokey Mountain Association and Chamblee First United Methodist Church. Susan was an avid fly fisher and tyer and was invited to demonstrate at many fly tiers seminars in Townsend, TN.
She will be sadly missed by her partner of 34 years, Joan Moore; Christine Watson of Gulf Shores, FL; Rev. Dr. Royeese Stowe, Becky Veal-Ouida Mosley & Alice Stone of Kevil, KY; the Johnson family & staff of Big Meadows Campground of Townsend, TN; Little River Outfitters of Townsend, TN; Dr. Bill Boyd & wife Wendy of Dayton, TN; Tim & Betty Pratt of Knoxville, TN; Dottie Davis; Dave & Yvonne-Morgan & family; Susan Matlick; Tom & Julie Cutler & family and Carl & Donna Bonner of Milton, FL.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens, with Rev. Dr. Royeese Stowe officiating.
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