Susie Genette Stillwell

In the month of November, on the 3rd day of the year 1951, in Los Angeles, California, Susie Genette Stillwell was born to the union of Wilbert Richard Stillwell and Katie Marie Usher-Stillwell.  She was the 3rd of 6 children. Susie spent her childhood in Houston, Texas, graduating from Booker T. Washington in 1970.  During her senior high school year, Susie met her future husband, James Douglas Crump.  After graduation, they married and to their union two sons were born:  James Douglas Crump Jr. and John Wesley Crump.  Susie was so excited to raise her boys.  James went into the Army and a few years after the marriage ended in divorce. As the years passed and the boys grew up, Susie realized that she wanted to return to school. She decided to attend school in her birth state of California. Having many uncles and aunts in Los Angeles, she opted to live with her namesake, her Aunt Susie B.  She enrolled at Los Angeles City College and later at USC.  She excelled while pursuing her degree in Journalism and Radio/TV Marketing.  After college, she decided to return to Houston. Being a free spirit, she was determined to pursue a career that closely mirrored her area of study, radio broadcasting.  She began her career as a DJ in Los Angeles at radio stations KUTE, KDAY, KTNQ and KFWB.  She also became a DJ at radio stations KYOK and KCOH in Houston, TX.  She always had the gift of gab as well as being a talented writer, even trying her hand at poetry. She was always trying to invent a “new Susie” and she always succeeded. Susie married Ezra McCoy in 1993, however, the marriage was later dissolved.   Susie’s next endeavor was to try her hand at acting.  At the urging of her uncle Theoris and cousin, actor Roscoe Lee Brown, she read a script and made quite an expression with the production cast. She was just an eager beaver and wanted to prove that she could do anything she wanted to do. Susie had parts in the following movies and TV shows: The Mambo Kings, The Meteor Man, Reform School Girls, Derek and Delila, Rebel Highway, Blackula,  Set it Off (stunt double for Queen Latifah), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine TV Series (as a Klingon), The Fresh Prince of Bellaire, NYPD Blue, and Night Court. As a child singing in the Junior Choir, Susie always knew she could belt out a tune. So she set about reinventing herself once again. She recorded a CD entitled NeferNfertiti, Queen Found?  The CD is a compilation of Old School sounds intermixed with Hip Hop beats and Egyptian melodies. Susie really found singing to be her highest calling. She performed in many arenas, i.e., California, Houston, private parties and area locales as far away as Conroe, TX.  One of her outstanding performances was imitating Tina Turner. Her portrayal of Tina was spot on.   She was just an ‘entertaining’ entertainer, always in demand and ready to perform.  It never got old to her. After moving back to Houston in 2010, she found her true soul mate, Douglas Thompson, who was her constant companion until her passing. Susie loved the spice of life. She loved to travel.   She loved community involvement.  She loved the crowds.  She loved her family.   Susie departed this life on September 6, 2016.  She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. There will never be another SUSIE! Susie leaves to mourn her passing, 2 sons, James Douglas (Laurie), John Wesley (Shana), her sister, Cheryl Woolridge (Fred);  brothers - Samuel (Patricia), Wilbert R. Jr., Michael (Tchelinda) & Anthony Lee;  her grandchildren – Marley Mae Crump, Macy Crump (2 wks.),  Jonothan Crump, Darius Crump, Deonte’ Crump,  and Kaylin Crump; her great grandson - Cameron Crump;  her companion - Douglas Thompson; a host of nieces and nephews and many grieving family members and friends. Susie was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbert & Katie Stillwell.; sisters, Michele Rene Stillwell and Evelyn Stillwell Bullard.   But God doeth all things for the best, and we are to trust HIM and lean not unto our own understanding.    Proverbs 3: 5-6