Suzanne Carnes

Mary Suzanne Carnes, 97, of Bainbridge, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2024.

A family graveside memorial service will be held at Andersonville National Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. Memorial donations may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, P.O. Box 758589, Topeka, KS 66675. www.pva.org/donate

Mary Suzanne Willis was born February 9, 1927, in Pelham, GA, the daughter of Olin & Mary Sue Huggins Willis. Following her high school graduation, Suzanne enrolled at Georgia State Womens College (now Valdosta State University), later spending two years between the hedges at the University of Georgia.  Suzanne married Thomas Carlton Carnes in 1948, and they made their home in Gainesville, GA. She and Carlton later moved to Hopeful, GA to operate a family farm and became active members of Branchville Methodist Church. After retiring from full-time farming, they moved to a country home near Damascus, GA where she continued to enjoy her children, grandchildren, and great-grands.

Suzanne was a quiet, gentle soul who loved the Lord. She was an artist who enjoyed painting with water colors, crafting, needlepoint, sewing, quilling, calligraphy, and refinishing furniture. Her flower and vegetable gardens were evidence of her green thumb. As a first-grade teacher, she realized the importance of sharing her love of reading and spent many joyful moments in the pages of books with her own children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Stewart Terrell "Terry" Carnes (Julie) of Atlanta, Thomas C. "Tommy" Carnes, Jr. (Debi) of Ft. Gaines, and Brian Carnes (Theresa) of Bainbridge; her grandchildren, Kerri, Russ, Brendan, Neal, Taryn, Josh, and Matthew; and her great-grandchildren, Megan, Kathryn, Annabelle, Asa, Christian, and Rebecca. In addition to her parents, Suzanne was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Carlton Carnes, and her siblings, Betty Miller, Caroline Googe, and Tommy Willis.