Susanna Haynesworth Hannibal was born January 9, 1924 in Clarendon County, SC and was the fourth of twelve children of the late Mack Willie and Annie Hammett Rhodes. She transitioned from this life on May 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. Susanna accepted Christ at an early age and began her Christian journey at the Melina Presbyterian Church in Sumter County, SC.
As a child, Susanna dreamed of teaching. She moved closer to her dreams when she graduated from Goodwill Presbyterian Parochial School in Mayesville, SC. She went on to attend Morris College, graduating in 1949 with her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary School Education. She often told of her proudest moments, which was her first teaching position. She taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades at Whitmire Elementary School located in Newberry County, SC.
Susanna married Carlyle Haynesworth November 14, 1953, and she enjoyed the adventures of being a U.S. Navy wife travelling, with their two girls, Janie and Carolyn. She met new friends and established long-time friendships with families such as the Reed Family. They have been friends since the early 1960’s in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While living in Cuba, Susanna played softball on the Navy Wives’ Team. Later you would often find her watching her favorite team in baseball, basketball and football on TV.
Carlyle and Susanna’s final duty destination was Norfolk, Va. where she met Mildred Budd and Rubie Goode, her ‘cut buddy.’ Carlyle and Susanna were active members of the Second Calvary Baptist Church where she was a missionary and a member of the usher board. After many years as a homemaker and successfully raising their daughters, Susanna returned to work in the retail industry and later in the Federal Government at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, officially retiring in 1988.
No one knew, Susanna had two suitors until she met Charlie in 1985. You would often hear Susanna say, “Oh my, who would ever have thought...!” So, on November 21, 1987 she married Charlie Hosea Hannibal. Charlie and Susanna were active members of the Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, SC where she continued in the missionary ministry with two best friends Anne Pinkney and Alberta “Bert” Davis, a friend from college. She also joined the Senior Choir; she had a beautiful soprano voice! She said, “that singing for the Lord was one of her joys and now she was able.”
Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature, and Susanna was indeed a flower. She also loved her flower garden, a trait she inherited from her mother. Another trait was her ability to cook, an art that she fondly remembered learning from her mother who would watch Susanna as she sat at the nearby table attending to a younger child. Susanna loved cooking. Nothing gave her greater happiness than our family gatherings where she always planned and prepared her delectable dishes, fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, cabbage, rutabagas, candied yams and yes, “the sweet potato pie.”
Susanna, you brought so much joy to this family, you were never too busy to care about what we were going through. If you could help, you did. Susanna always took the time and energy to make everyone around her feel loved and important. Family gatherings were a production, and that is why there are many mama, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin and family friend stories.
She leaves Carolyn and Andrew, her beloved caregivers, to carry on her legacy. While living in Washington, DC, Susanna was adopted into the hearts of the Bego and Robinson families. She celebrated every holiday at their homes. While living in DC, Susanna was a member of the historical Shiloh Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Susanna was preceded in death by her husbands, Carlyle Haynesworth and Charlie Hosea Hannibal, daughters Janie Haynesworth Newkirk and Alice Denise Hannibal Rogers; four sisters, Adranna Cooper, Annie Elizabeth Muldrow, Hattie Burgess, Daisy Sims, and; five brothers, Calvin Rhodes, John Rhodes, Sam Rhodes, Albert Rhodes, and MacArthur Rhodes.
All of Susanna’s family and friends hold their own special and precious memories of their relationship with her. She is survived by her children Patricia (Ransom) Smith of Camden, SC, Linda H. Wheat of Sumter, SC, Charles (Jo Ann) Hannibal, Jr., of Columbia, SC, Randolph (Sharon) Mack of Newark, DE; Audrey Covington of Sumter, SC, Carolyn (Travis) Murrell of Washington, DC, and Velma H. Miles of Sumter, SC; son-in-law, Alexander Newkirk of Norfolk, Va., 29 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 17 great-great grandchildren; an aunt Eula Rhodes Felton Philadelphia, PA.; her sister Viola “Babysister” Rhodes and brother, Paul (Marian) Rhodes of Bronx, NY; sister-in-laws, Lizzy Anthony Rhodes of Bronx, NY and Sadie Rhodes of Troy, NY; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
