Cathryn Elise Fogg-Suggs

Born April 12, 1952, Cathryn Elise Fogg was the eldest of the four children of Wilbert and Dorothy (Lester) Fogg. The Fogg family lived and prospered in Bethany, Connecticut, a small town near New Haven. Cathryn attended Bethany Community Elementary School, Amity Junior High School - Bethany, and Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge. As a child, she enjoyed exploring the outdoors, participated in 4-H, and taught herself to play the autoharp.

Cathryn flourished in high school. She was energetic, athletic, and a proven student leader. She was a member of the Pep Club and Cheerleading Squad, serving as the team captain. It was the tumultuous 1960’s, and as one of only three African Americans in her graduating class, Cathryn felt compelled to address the civil rights discussions of the time. When the high school refused to lower the flag after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, Cathryn, in an act of civil disobedience, lowered the flag herself. Although she was subsequently suspended from school, her parents were proud that she took a stand. She also took part in the Contemporary American Issues and Girls Leader Clubs. Her junior year, Cathryn was the only African American selected for the Laurel Girl State, a statewide competitive leadership conference.

Following her graduation in 1970, Cathryn enrolled at the University of Connecticut. She graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in rehabilitation counseling and psychology. In 1975, Cathryn moved to the District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia area where she met Marvin E. Suggs. The two wed on March 19, 1977, and welcomed their daughter, Chevaun, in 1979.

Professionally, Cathryn specialized in providing treatment to people with substance abuse disorders that occur with one or more mental disorders. She offered individual, group and family counseling. She developed treatment programs for residential and outpatient clients. She supervised and trained staff, provided consultation to therapists, and facilitated communications between treatment departments. Cathryn retired in 2007 after 28 years of dedicated service to Fairfax County and its residents. In her retirement, Cathryn doted on her granddaughter, Serena, focused on her study of gems and cheered for any UCONN Huskies team.

Cathryn passed peacefully on February 7, 2025, after a brief illness. She was predeceased by her parents, and sister, Jeanne Fogg Lovell. She leaves behind daughter, Chevaun Demesme, and granddaughter, Serena Demesme, of Falls Church, VA; brother Wayne (Karen) Fogg of Wallingford, Connecticut; Leslie Fogg (Terry)Bowie of Silver Spring, Maryland; nephews, cousins, and friends.