Susie Wilkinson Moran

Susie Wilkinson Moran is celebrating in Heaven as she joined her Lord and Savior on Easter Sunday! She passed peacefully surrounded by her family at age 85. Susie was born in Memphis, TN, to the late William Glenn Wilkinson and Susan Harris Wilkinson. Raised on a dairy farm in Hernando, Mississippi, she was an outstanding student, graduating as valedictorian and captain of her basketball team. She graduated from Ole Miss magna cum laude in only 3 years and was one of the first women to receive a degree in business administration. She served as Rush Chair of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and chaired the university Red/Blue Ball. She married the love of her life in 1955, the late Alfred Russell Moran, an attorney and judge, then moved to Ocean Springs. She embraced the community, and it became her entire life and home. They were married 25 years and enjoyed working together at Moran's Insurance Agency and Moran Realty. Susie began her insurance career by traveling to Hartford, CT, to receive her license and training in 1967. She managed Moran Insurance Agency, established in 1888, and was a phenomenal Certified Insurance Counselor and agent. She served as president of the Gulf Coast Independent Insurance Agents Association and later retired in 2000. Her long career involved property and casualty insurance, a difficult challenge on the hurricane-prone Mississippi Gulf Coast. With their 3 children, Susie and Russell were involved in many church, social, and civic endeavors, including founding the Ocean Springs Yacht Club and Treasure Oak Country Club. They often entertained friends aboard the boat, Happy Gal III, to Horn Island and family weekends at the family camp. Together they survived Hurricane Camille and two cancer battles for Russell. He passed away very unexpectedly in 1981. As a young widow at 45, Susie's fierce strength and courage shone bright as she worked mightily to overcome great loss with dignity and grit. In the second phase of her life, she served as president of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, essentially becoming part of the town's fabric and history. As a devout and faithful person, Susie immersed herself in her church, serving as president of the Women of the Church, the building committee, Trustee, and a lifelong member of the choir, having sung since she was 6. Susie loved cultural and musical arts. She was an officer in the Mississippi Women of the Arts and the Symphony Guild, and she supported the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center and numerous endeavors in the community for history and beautification. She served on the founding Board of Directors of the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. She was an officer in the DAR and other charitable organizations. She enjoyed riding her bicycle to visit residents and friends all over Ocean Springs. Susie also loved to sail all around Biloxi Bay. A keen bird watcher, she was a member of the Audubon Society and had kept multiple bird feeders in her yard. With her curiosity, zest for life, and high energy, she tried to attend everything possible. In the last 20 years, she developed her personal ministry to the elderly, shut-ins, and nursing home residents. She visited as many as 9 nursing homes all along the Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoons delivering church bulletins and words of encouragement. She had a servant's heart and was passionate about forgotten, lonely, and neglected people. She blessed others with her kindness and warm, beautiful smile. She lived a remarkable, FULL life, as an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Susie adored her whole family and especially loved to travel with her grandchildren to faraway places after their high school graduations. She was known as "Sumama" and was famous for all her family sayings. Her deep and abiding faith was constantly nurtured with books, prayers, and spiritual leadership to all. She displayed an unusual sense of duty and diligence in her walk with the Lord, her sense of purpose, and her calling. It must have been a special delight to be taken to heaven on Resurrection Day! She is survived by her daughter, Susan Baker (Dr. Ralph) of Chapin, SC, daughter, Ethel Alman (Pete) of Brandon, MS, and son, Alfred "Fred" Moran (Dr. Stacey) of Ocean Springs, MS. She leaves 8 grandchildren: Dr. Susie Boles (Dr. David), Ralph Baker (Anna Gray), Dr. Russell Baker, Virginia Baker, Cayce McKay (John), Russell Moran, John Moran, and Molly Moran. Great grandchildren: Susan Boles, John Clyde McKay, and Frances Baker. Susie is survived by her nephews: Kevin Wilkinson (Lisa), Edward Wilkinson (Stephanie), and William "Bill" Wilkinson (Resa). She is also survived by her niece, Connie Moran, former mayor of Ocean Springs. Preceding her in death was her only sibling, Edward Hardy Wilkinson. Friends and family are invited to the Visitation Saturday, April 10th, 2021 at 11am at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs with a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 1:30pm; masks are encouraged. Graveside services will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs or the Walter Anderson Museum of Art. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Ocean Springs is honored to serve the family of Susie Moran.