Wilma Estella Watkins Sueing

July 13, 1933 ~ January 14, 2025

On July 13, 1933, in Wynne, Arkansas, the home of George and Tressie Watkins and big brother George Jr. was illuminated by the birth of a little girl, whom they named Wilma Estella.

Wilma accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized as a member of the Union Valley Baptist Church in Wynne. While a teen, she learned to love church work, a practice which followed her for the remainder of her active years.

Her early education was completed at Childress Vocational High School in Wynne, Arkansas. From there she graduated as valedictorian in the class of 1951 and matriculated at AM&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In 1955 she graduated cum laude with a major in English and a minor in Secondary Education. She had accumulated enough history credits to receive an endorsement in history in the State of Tennessee.

While at AM&N, she was inducted into two national honor societies – Sigma Rho Sigma National Social Studies Honor Society and Alpha Kappa Mu. She was also inducted into the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and became a Life Member. In 2002, she received Golden Soror Status and in 2017 she received Pearl Soror Status.

Her subsequent achievements included earning the Master of Arts at the University of Memphis in 1973 with English as both major and minor. She earned an additional 45 hours in Educational Administration and Supervision.

It was Wilma’s conviction that her primary life’s work should be one in which she could best inspire others to use their skills in the areas of language, literature, and history in Memphis City Schools. She spent her professional career as a teacher of high school and college students in those disciplines, along with experiences in instructional supervision and professional development. Her school assignments included Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass, and Sheffield High Schools.She was a part-time teacher at Shelby State Community College (now Southwest Tennessee Community College). After 41 years of employment in Memphis City Schools, she retired as an instructional supervisor in December 1996.

Following retirement, Wilma was employed by the University of Memphis as a member of the Title I Support Team and as a per diem sales representative for Prentice Hall Publishing Company. This was followed by a four-year period as an independent contractor with the Distinguished Educators and Exemplary Educators programs for the Tennessee Department of Education.

Community/civic organizations which were close to her heart were her church Metropolitan Baptist Church, where she served in leadership and support roles – as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent of the Young People’s Division, member of the Deborah-Macedonia Sunday School Class and the Pastor’s Weekly Bible Class, the Membership Committee, and the Board of Trustees; Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she served as Chaplain, Ivy Leaf Reporter, and Editor in Residence of chapter history publications; Memphis Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, where she served as Chaplain, Program Chairman, Editor of Souvenir Books for the Holiday Cotillion; and Correspondence Secretary (receiving Alumni Status in 2007). Other involvement includes the NAACP, where she held Life Membership, the UAPB National Alumni Association, and Optimist International, where she served as President of Curve Optimist Club and Lt. Governor for Zone 2, a position for which she obtained the status of Distinguished. She was also a member of the University of Memphis Chapter, Phi Delta Educational Fraternity where she served as President.

Wilma was married to Charles A. Sueing, Sr. This union was blessed with two children: Cheryl and Charles, Jr. (Chuck). Upon this marriage, she was blessed also to gain children Andrea, Oscar, and his twin brother Oliver (mother, Bennie Wilson), all of whom she loved dearly.

Both parents, three siblings (her brother George, Jr., and unnamed twin girls), her husband Charles Sr. and stepson Oliver saw the face of God ahead of her.

On the 14th day of January 2025 in Bartlett, TN, Wilma was transitioned from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant when she was ushered into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Fond memories will be cherished by her children, Cheryl Sueing-Jones (William Jones), Charles Sueing, Jr. (Marie Sueing), additional children Andrea Sueing Cosby, Oscar Sueing (Linda Sueing), grandchildren Lauren Travis, Lia Jones-Karavokiris (Lucas Karavokiris), Skylar Jones, Kristen Sueing, Justin Sueing (Elida Sueing), Jalen Sueing; additional grandchildren Gia Broadway (Danny Broadway), Christopher Sueing, Eric Sueing, Brooke Richardson, Jessica Salerno (Vincent Salerno), Adrian Sueing, Amarylis Sueing, Elizabeth Sueing; siblings Kenneth Watkins (Francis Watkins), Edna Randolph (Donald Randolph), Doris Hawkins, close cousin Marian Morrison, a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, former students and many others.

Family and friends will be received on Friday January 24,2025 from 4:00-6:00 PM at RS Lewis and Sons Funeral Home 2944 Walnut Grove Road Memphis TN 38111

An additional public viewing will take place from 10:00-10:55 AM Saturday January 25, 2025 with a Celebration of Life to follow at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of Metropolitan Baptist Church 767 Walker Ave Memphis TN 38106.

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