Dr. Wilbur Suesberry Jr.

A memorial service for Wilbur will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions - White & Day Center, 901 Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, California, followed by a reception from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Wilbur Suesberry, Jr. was born on January 11, 1938, in Splashdam, Virginia, a small coal mining town, to Wilbur Suesberry and Bessie Dukes Suesberry. Wilbur was the youngest of two sons born to this union. As there was no school for Black children in Splashdam, the family moved to Blue Diamond, Kentucky when Wilbur was four so that he and his brother, Ivory could attend school. He was enormously proud that he attended a one room schoolhouse and started school the same time as his brother because he wanted to do everything Ivory did. Wilbur attended the one room school through completion of the 7th grade. His family moved to Dayton, Ohio prior to his starting 8th grade.

Wilbur discovered his love for baseball when he was young and played the sport through high school. As a pitcher, Wilbur pitched three no-hitters which drew the attention of the football coach at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School. However, his mother, Bessie would not allow him to play football until he was in the 10th grade. Once Bessie allowed Wilbur to play football, he became a standout quarterback for the Dunbar Wolverines football team. Wilbur had an appetite for learning and excelled in school. He graduated from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in 1955 with straight As at the age of 17.

Wilbur attended Tennessee State University (TSU) as a recipient of a football scholarship. He was an immensely proud member of the Tigers football team. As quarterback, cornerback, and punter, he helped the Tigers achieve an undefeated season which culminated in the team’s winning the 1956 Black College National Football Championship. While at TSU, Wilbur was initiated as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in the spring of 1957. Wilbur earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Tennessee State. During his lifetime, he remained an avid supporter of TSU athletics, especially the Tigers football team. Wilbur was inducted in the TSU Hall of Fame in 1992.

In 1965, Wilbur earned his Medical Degree from Meharry Medical College. After serving in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and completing his residency at U.C. Irvine, he practiced as an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) in Compton, California and later, Delano, California for 48 years. He loved being a physician and serving minority communities.

Wilbur was married twice. During his first marriage, three daughters were born, Carla Renee, Monica Lynn, and Michelle Joi. Wilbur had two children, Kyle Anthony and Holly Lyn during his second marriage.

Always the athlete, Wilbur ran several marathons which led to his qualifying for the Boston and New York marathons, which he also completed. He was a diehard Los Angeles Rams fan and shared his passion for football with his family and friends. Wilbur enjoyed taking his children to Rams games at the Los Angeles Coliseum and later at Anaheim Stadium. He shared the excitement of watching the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2022 with his grandchildren.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur Suesberry, Bessie Suesberry and his oldest brother, James Lockett. Wilbur is survived by his children, Carla Suesberry Jackson (Brian), Monica Suesberry, Michelle Suesberry, and Kyle Anthony Suesberry (Karen), Holly Lyn Suesberry; grandchildren, Khari Amir, Kane Ravi, and Malia Simone; brother, Ivory Suesberry; several nieces, including Joanna Lockett-Blair, Vanessa Lockett, Donna Suesberry White, and nephew, Rodney Suesberry, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions to be sent to Tennessee State University via the link below:

https://epay.tnstate.edu/C20204_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=723