Susan Beckham Daniel

She is predeceased by her parents, Dr. Charles Howard Daniel from Senoia, GA and Ruth Beckham Harris from Concord, GA. Her father died when she was only three years old. Her sister, Dorothy Daniel Mercure predeceased her, as did her step-sister Laura Harrison.

Susan spent her earliest years in College Park, GA. Her father was the town doctor. Her mother remarried Col. CTB Harris after her husband's death. The family moved to Barnesville and then to Rome, GA. Susan graduated from East Rome High School in 1964. In her senior year she was recognized for having an A average. The Class Prophecy claimed she would soon be teaching a class on "How To Win Friends and Influence People". As early as her high school years, she was avidly interested in politics, celebrating the election of LBJ in 1964. Her political opinions gave others an immediate view of who she was and how strongly she felt on many topics.

She enrolled at Emory at Oxford, where she was academically successful. She was invited to join Eta Sigma Psi, an honorary society which recognized only students with the highest academic and leadership records. A French major, she spent time studying in Quebec, Canada with a French speaking family.

After earning a Master's degree in Economics, she married David Tripp with whom she lived in Atlanta, South Carolina, and Indiana. After that marriage ended she went to work in Washington, DC in the 1980s and 1990s, while living in Tacoma Park, MD. There she worked as an economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the IRS.

After her second marriage to J.R. Preston they moved to Rome, GA to be near her mother. The home they built was hers until her passing. Susan was fluent in French and lived in France and briefly in Japan. As a leader in the local Rome Democratic Party, she continued her lifelong interest in politics. She taught yoga to a senior citizens and was an avid tennis player during years in Rome. As a faithful member of the Rome First United Methodist Church, she lived out her calling to the Christian life which began at Emory when she was on the Leadership Team of the North Georgia Conference Board of Education of the Methodist Church.

Susan is survived by niece Liz Mercure (Atlanta, GA), nephew Michael Robert Mercure (Thomaston, GA), relatives from her mother's second marriage to Col. Harris, step-brothers Jim Harris (New London, NH), and Buddy Harris (Atlanta, GA).

Also surviving are her step-nieces and nephews: Dr. Katrina Taylor (Chester, VT), Marjorie Harris (Atlanta, GA), and Cliff Harris (Atlanta, GA), Lauralyn Harrison and Mark Harrison (Rome, GA).

Friends giving invaluable care to Susan in her last months were Susan Brown who was always there for her, Marsha Dempsey, Sid and Jo Ann Bell, Barbara Triplett, Judy Sorrow and her longtime financial advisor Buster Young.

Susan's wishes are for a small gathering of friends to remember her interesting life and to scatter her ashes at a place dear to her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of her favorite organizations:

Davies Shelter 3 Central Plaza PMP391 Rome, GA 30161

Oxford College of Emory University (Dallas Tarkenton Scholarship Fund) 801 Emory St Oxford, GA 30054

or Hospitality House P.O. Box 5163 Rome, GA 30161