Susan Miller Cowles

Susan Miller Laffitte Cowles died on March 19, 2014. Her generous spirit is carried on by her three children, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and an extended family of beloved relatives and friends.

Susan was an adoring mother and grandmother, a retired English professor, and the author of two books about growing up in Tallahassee during World War II. She loved sharing her curiosity with everyone and playing with words and literary allusions with her children and grandchildren. She taught her children to love literature, to listen, to be patient, to learn the rules and then break them. She gave her grandchildren the unconditional devotion that made them open to her good advice.

Susan was a gardener, painter, traveler, voracious reader, lifelong Episcopalian, and lover of the beach and England. She was a remarkable conversationalist who could turn a stranger into a friend in minutes. She was a founding member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent; a Chi Omega; a member of Phi Beta Kappa, three book clubs, and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America; and an alumnus of Leon High School and Florida State University. She enjoyed nothing more than throwing a party and was an irrepressible Southern hostess to the very end. In the hospital and rehab she wore herself out "entertaining all those doctors and nurses and roommates." Her generosity was boundless.

Susan's children and their spouses are Frank and Anneliese Laffitte (Fayetteville, NC), Bryan and Lucy Laffitte (Raleigh, NC), and Jean and Lin Hudson (Tallahassee). Her grandchildren: Kate and Rachel Hudson, Elise Laffitte, Birgit Leu, Sylvia (and Tim) Boland, Diana (and Will) Hayes, Neil (and Michele) Tartt. Her great grandchildren: Justin Tartt, Matthew Tartt, Kayleigh Tartt, and Dylan Tartt, Logan Hayes and Lauren Hayes.

We wish there were room to name her dear cousins and lifelong friends. Her twin cousins Betty Williams Kane and Lucy Williams Littleton were as close to her as sisters could be, born one day after her and growing up next door. Susan was blessed to have Betty at her side with the rest of her family on her last day with us. Susan's family and friends are comforted by the knowledge that she is reunited with her beloved husband Bill and parents Lou and Frank Miller.

A celebration of Susan's life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church on Friday, March 28 at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Susan's name may be made to the Lou and Frank Miller Scholarship Fund at the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

Arrangements under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.