Susan Wilbanks

Susan Willbanks, of Dacula, beloved by family and friends. 

The beacon of joy and love in her community dimmed on July 7, 2024 when Susan Willbanks passed away at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton at the age of 76. 

Susan was born April 17, 1948 in Royston, Georgia, one of four children born to Grace and Hugh Winn. Her family relocated to Atlanta when she was a child, where she attended Russell High School in East Point. Friends arranged a blind date with Ron Willbanks, and they promptly fell in love and were married nine months later. They raised daughter Lori Bridger (Kerry) and son Spencer (Jennifer) first in Morrow, then in Gwinnett County, where she lived the rest of her life. Susan and Ron were married for 57 years at the time of her passing, consistent with her devotion and commitment to her loved ones. 

Susan was beloved by her friends and family for her thoughtfulness, her loving spirit, her perseverance in the face of difficulty, and not least for her abundant laughter and her ability to make others laugh with humor that was by turns silly, cerebral, cutting, or sweet. She played tennis on her neighborhood team, division winners 11 times and City Champions twice, every time alongside her decades-long best friend, Brenda Lawson. She never turned down a trip somewhere with Ron or with friends if she could help it. Favorite destinations included Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, and almost any beach. An avid fiction reader, she also enjoyed following and discussing current events and political developments at the national and local levels. She loved living with a beloved house cat or two, and a glance at her backyard offers ample evidence of her love of plants, whimsy, and birds, with hummingbirds holding a special place for her. 

Susan contended with far more than her share of loss and tragedy in her lifetime. She overcame many challenges following a stroke in 2021, but her loving spirit and her ability to brighten anyone’s day remained undiminished. Susan never met a stranger. 

A faithful member of Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church for many years, Susan ministered to others inside and outside her church. She has now received her angel wings and is in the loving arms of Jesus, reunited with all her loved ones who went before.

In addition to her husband Ron and their children, Susan is survived by six grandchildren: Emma Grace Mrozek (Andy), Jonah, Ethan, and Owen Bridger, and Helen and Alice Willbanks. She took enormous delight in being their Nana. She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Sylvia and Barbara, and brother Steven. 

A memorial and celebration of her life will be held July 17 at Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church, with a reception from 3pm and a ceremony beginning at 4pm. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church, 5152 Braselton Hwy, Hoschton, GA 30548 or to the American Stroke Association.

Share memories of Susan at hamiltonmillchapel.com

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-945-6924