Susan Smith Till

Born in Stanley, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Paul Robert Smith and Marian Theirl Smith. Susan grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned an undergraduate degree in Education at The University of Georgia in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in English Literature from Idaho State University in 1968. In 1977, she moved with her family to her husband’s homeplace in Orangeburg County, South Carolina where she taught high school English. After retiring from a long career in Orangeburg School District Five, she earned a PhD in Language and Literacy at the University of South Carolina in 2007. She worked as an English Professor at Claflin University in Orangeburg for five years after completing her doctoral work, considering this a golden opportunity to continue her passion for teaching.

Susan loved wildflowers and literature. She believed boredom led to creativity and that the best way to foster intelligence among young people was to make sure they got up early, read lots, and had an abundance of time to spend unsupervised outdoors. When her four children got in squabbles, Susan would say, “I don’t want to hear it! Take it to the fields!” (Fortunately for the children, they grew up on a dairy farm and the fields were as plentiful as were their fights).

Susan was a gifted English teacher at Orangeburg Wilkinson High School and later an esteemed professor at Claflin University. She did not accept less than excellence from her students, and she did not put up with nonsense. She was the kind of teacher who was tough on her students because she believed in them, cared for them. Her students knew that, and they loved her for it.

Susan loved her town of Orangeburg, too, and worked tirelessly to make it a better place. She and her sassy friends called themselves The Discourse Divas and they got together once a month to make Good Trouble, celebrating Orangeburg’s rich history and its promise while insisting its people could do and be better for each other.

Mostly, though, Susan loved her eight grandchildren. Fortunately for them, they each spent plenty of time in her lap as young children, being read book after book after book from an impressive home library Susan curated specifically for them. Susan thought each of her grandchildren was exceptionally brilliant, and because of that, they are. Her belief that young people could change the world if they only read enough books was simply unparalleled.

Surviving are husband, John Earl Till; her children and grandchildren, Shannon Till Poteat & Chad Poteat, Leigh Poteat Gravitt & Carter Gravitt, Lane Poteat, Summers Poteat; Ashley Till; Erin Till Miller & Dutton Miller, Ella Miller, Olivia Miller, Max Miller; John Earnest Till & Kristi Reames Till, Maddie Till, and John Emerson Till. She also leaves behind her sisters, Sally and Kathy Smith and her brother, Paul Smith.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Alice Smith Burnett and her brother, Tommy Smith.

The family wishes to thank Edisto Hospice and the incredible team of caregivers who helped Susan through her journey with Alzheimer’s.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 2:00 pm at St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Columbia, SC.

In lieu of flowers, please join us in making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association online at alz.org or by mail to 320 Nevada St. Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com