I wanted to start out by first saying thank you to everyone who has been praying for my family, our children, and myself. I am humbled by the outpouring of love we have received. Everyone has told their Susan stories and these stories have been so wonderful to read.

I wanted to tell everyone my Susan story to give those of you who did not know her an idea of what kind of person she was.

I knew Susan from Hixson Elementary School when I moved to Hixson from the Tyner area in fifth grade. We had home room together in sixth grade. It wasn't until many years later when we both were working at Unum (UnumProvident back then) in 2003 that our paths crossed forever. I fell in love with Susan immediately and knew she would be my wife one day. I had spent my life wondering when I was going to find the perfect person for me. I was young when I was married before. I was not a Christian and did my best to find the right person, but failed miserably. It wasn't until I was saved that God delivered the perfect person I could never choose on my own - Susan.

Right away, I learned so much about the man I wanted to be, the kind of person God wanted me to be reflected by the love I felt with Susan. She was the most selfless person I have known. She lived with physical pain since I knew her. She would ignore the pain and minister to other peoples' needs, all while working a 40-hour-a-week job that she loved dearly.

I would often ask her why she worked so hard. She told me it was because she loved to stay busy and she loved her job. She worked tirelessly, then went home and did whatever was needed of her to take care of her children.

We were not only a team when it came to home and children, but since we placed Christ first in our lives, we were blessed in our life together.

The thing I will miss most about her was her amazing capacity to love... God, me, and the children, and then others. The friends she had that she loved and ministered to. Then she put herself last. We could all stand to take a lesson from my wife Susan. The world would be a far better place.

I thank you for your continued prayers for me and my family. Having to cope with her death has been the hardest thing I have ever had to undergo in my life. I would not have made it this far without the grace that God has given me and the love and support of both my families.

Thank you all so much for enriching my life because Susan touched your hearts.

Matt Wood
Hixson
mattwood1966@gmail.com