Ava Suzanne Whittom

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Ava Suzanne Whittom left her earthly home to be with Jesus on November 3, 2024. She was born on September 20, 1970 and was the youngest of three children born to Tommy and Sue Whittom. For 54 years she was “On loan to us from God,” as her maternal grandmother stated at her birth. Suzanne will be remembered for her infectious smile that she greeted everyone with, usually calling your name. In addition to her loving nature, Suzanne had an extraordinary gift for remembering birthdays from memory. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, and lovingly presented her creations as gifts to family and friends. She loved her family, friends, and Jesus. She was a member of Weathersby Baptist Church.

Growing up, Suzanne enjoyed traveling with her family while participating in numerous local and national pageant activities with her sister. Suzanne never shied away from modeling or performing her pantomime talent on the stage in front of live audiences. Her most memorable moments were being crowned “American Star Little Sister” and participating in American Star Pageant activities the following year as a reigning queen which included riding the pageant float during the Peach Bowl Parade on a cold, blustery, winter day. Suzanne completed twelve years of education, earning her Certificate of Completion from Mendenhall High School in 1990. Following graduation, Suzanne joined the Willowood Mobley-Collins Group Home in Pearl, MS. For the next 34 years, Suzanne forged special relationships with her group home family, gained valuable life and vocational skills, and had numerous work opportunities.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Norman Whittom, brother, Thomas Norman Whittom, Jr., maternal grandparents, Clarence and Louise Harvey, and paternal grandparents, Bill and Mary V. Terry. She is survived by her mother, Glenda Sue Whittom, sister, Angela Alise Reiken, niece and family, Ava Alise (Chandler, Dante, and Harlan) Bond, maternal aunt, Barbara Stubbs, paternal uncle, Robert Gray, Jr., and extended family members, Joseph A. “Tony” and Mary Rose Reiken, and residents and staff of the Willowood Mobley-Collins Group Home. Numerous cousins and many friends mourn her loss.

Visitation will be held at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall, 3077 MS-13, Mendenhall, MS on Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 12:00pm until 3:00pm followed by the memorial service at 3:00pm in the chapel. Honorary pall bearers will be Joseph A. Reiken, Jr., George Harvey Warren, Richard Anthony Warren, Chandler Dale Bond, Tommy Joe Harvey, Clinton Grice Rotenberry, Robert Gray, Jr., and Nick Weathersby.

In lieu of flowers, donations for Suzanne’s monument can be sent to Glenda Sue Whittom or family.