Susan Carley

The Birth and Christian Life
Ms. Susan Carley was born on Wednesday, October 21, 1953, in the City of Roses, Thomasville, Georgia. Ms. Carley was nourished, reared and supported in her formative years in the inseparable Tockwotten Community. She was the third eldest of seven amazing children born to the union of the late Joseph Eugene Carley, Sr. and Rosamond Louise "Mu-Dear" Colvin Carley. In early childhood, she was baptized at Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church by Pastor Monroe. She served as an active member of the junior usher board and Sunday School. In adolescence, the Carley family became members of Providence Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Atkinson. There Ms. Carley was highly engaged in youth programs and community outreach. In adulthood, she was active on the usher board, women's ministry and served as a lead Sunday School instructor in several churches in the city.

As a Christian and active member in the Body of Christ, Ms. Carley candidly embraced a Godly charge as outlined in the third chapter of Proverbs: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. She truly operated with intentionality, core principles and discipline in her faith walk.

Ms. Carley espoused vision, entrepreneurship, compassion, love of family, financial literacy, loving-kindness, candor, and a heart for God. She answered the call to dwell in her heavenly home on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at the historic Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville, Georgia. Ms. Carley was surrounded by loving family and supportive staff.

The Life of a Scholar
Ms. Susan Carley attended Susie H. Dunlap Elementary. In 1971, she graduated from Thomas County Central High School. Thereafter, Ms. Carley commenced post-secondary studies at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College. She earned a degree in Criminal Justice.  As a healthcare professional, Ms. Carley earned and held the State of Georgia licensure for Home Health Care providers for over 40 years. Additionally, she led  professional development trainings throughout the state supporting personal care home owners and staff.

The Life of a Community Social Justice Advocate
Ms. Susan Carley served as a community change agent in a host of organizations to include,  the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, sister of the Order of Easter Star #214,  Thomasville Lions Club, Thomas County Foster Care Program and the Travel'n Divas. Further, she was a direct service healthcare entrepreneur and a highly spirited member in the national Sisterlocks community.

As a CASA volunteer, Ms. Carley provided intentional and impactful support to adolescence experiencing challenges in the home, school and community. As a change agent for social justice, she often conducted home visits, collaborated with local businesses to provide aid to the youth, join youth for school lunches to establish rapport and attended court hearings to ensure overt professional support of often underserved youths. Ms. Carley frequently expressed,  "I love the kids as my own."

As an active Lions Club member, Ms. Carley participated in healthcare initiatives, to include the annual fundraising at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Whigham, Georgia. The fundraisers included, but were not limited to, the sale of durable high-quality brooms and mops with proceeds applied towards the purchase of eyeglasses and hearing aids for historically marginalized and underserved populations.

As a sister in the Order of Easter Star #214, Ms. Carley engaged in efforts that promoted personal growth, charity and social interactions. For example, she volunteered at the annual Christmas Giveaway Program which provided toys and food to children and families. In addition, she  participated in the annual high school graduates' scholarship program. As an active sister, Ms. Carley attended  the Grand Lodge Conventions where her passion for social justice and service were nurtured. The sisterhood was heightened with engagement in many outreach programs with her beloved mother, the late Mrs. Rosamond Louise Colvin-Carley, a long-time sister in the Order of Easter Star #214, and her son, Mr. Jamie S. Floyd, a brother in the Masonic Lodge S.P. Jones,  #118.
As an engaging friend in the Travel'n Divas, under the superintendence of Ms. Paula Cole-Hill,  Ms. Carley traveled with the sisters to several social and cultural trips where life long bonds were established. These trips were often taken with her youngest sibling, Mrs. Rosamond Elaine "Pie" Carley-Pressley.

Ms. Carley valued health and wellness. She was an active member at the Thomasville YMCA Club and often engaged in the aquatics and spin classes. During her vacations, to include family international cruises and beach trips, she would engage in fitness activities, to include winning a hula hoop contest on the island of Nassau Bahamas.

The Professional Life
Ms. Susan Carley initiated her professional career in criminal justice in Tifton, Georgia and continued the same in Thomasville, Georgia. Later she worked alongside family-centered colleagues for many years at Sunnyland and Southwestern State Hospital. At Southwestern, she provided direct practice care to clients with a dual diagnosis as a senior level health service technician. While engaged in professional healthcare, she began to explore ways to give back in the Thomasville community in support of diverse youth. Thus, in the 1985, she commenced serving as a trained foster care parent. In this highly enjoyable role, Ms. Carley provided a caring, supportive, and inclusive home to adolescents. In the home, the focus centered on personal well-being, self-awareness, cultural humility, a love of God, and academic success. Each youth was highly engaged in church programs, completed high school and many earned college degrees. Often, her front porch would be filled with young adult visitors that were once in foster care stopping by to simply say, "Thanks Ms. Sue for being there for me." She engaged the adolescents with the same compassion, candor, structure, and direction offered to her biological children.

Later in her professional life, Ms. Carley was led by God to embrace entrepreneurship and opened her own business, Susan's Personal Care Home, with loving support from her youngest son, Mr. Jamie S. Floyd.  He served as her very first employee and colleague. The facility provided 24 hour assisted living care to diverse adults with comorbity that many other facilities had not previously accepted. Her love for people and compassion informed her leadership, organizational structure, copious documentation and state recognition as a trail blazer in personal care home development in the State of Georgia. Her dedication to excellence in healthcare management and client care afforded opportunities to engage with nurses, physicians, clinical social workers, adult day care treatment staff, and other personal care home providers. Moreover, she led evidence based professional development trainings for aspiring and established licensed home health care providers in the State of Georgia. With confidence, Ms. Carley established relationships with non-profit organizations and leaders to advocate for resources and services for her clients, whom she and her staff embraced as family. Her colleagues often exclaimed, "Sue you are the best in the [personal care home] business!"

After 40+ years in practice as a business owner and facility director, Ms. Carley formally retired. She spend the remainder of her professional life providing pro bono support to community members, youth, women in leadership roles, faith-based organizations and emerging healthcare professionals. Her pro bono contributions centered on quality of care, the importance of one's own self-care, and financial literacy. Her vision mantra was clear, "It's okay to cheer for others and see life through their lens; however, it's important to cheer for yourself and see life through your own lens."

The Legacy of Life
Ms. Susan Carley's legacy of life continues among her two loving sons, Dr. Telvis M. Rich of New York, New York and Mr. Jamie S. Floyd of Fort Myers, Florida. The legacy is further supported by siblings Barbara Carley of Thomasville, Georgia, Gail Louise Smith of Atlanta, Georgia, and Rosamond Elaine "Pie" Carley-Pressley of Thomasville, Georgia. The legacy is fortified by dynamic and talented nephews, nieces, aunts and cousins Tidus Demetruis Carley, Sr. (Kendra) of Leesburg, Georgia, Ashley Mervin and Marsha Lewis both of Albany, Georgia, Ulysses Smith, Jr., Acey Smith, Brandon Smith all of Atlanta, Georgia, Joseph Joshua Carley Mervin of Orlando, Florida, Jeremiah Lewis of Albany, Georgia, Breonna Smith, Brandon Smith, Jr., and Blessin Smith all of of Atlanta, Georgia, Tidus Carley, Jr. of Leesburg, Georgia, Johnnie Mae Carley, Dorothy Carley and Velma Davis all of Thomasville, Georgia.

To cherish her loving great legacy are additional beloved aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, sons and daughters by loving embrace, faith-based organizations, community leaders, neighbors, healthcare professionals, prayer partners, and friends throughout the nation to include, but not limited to Atlanta, Georgia, Detroit, Michigan, several cities in Maryland, Tallahassee, Florida and Thomasville, Georgia.

Ms. Susan Carley entered into heavenly rest  on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, after her parents, Mr. Joseph Eugene Carley, Sr. and Mrs. Rosamond Louise "Mu-Dear" Colvin Carley, sister, Evangelist Dr. Armogene Carley-Archer, brothers, Dr. Joseph Donnell Carley, Jr. and Mr. Eugene Carley, brothers in law, Mr. Ulyssess Smith, Sr. and Mr. David Pressley and a host of colleagues, friends and extended family.

Ms. Carley wore many hats as an ever-present help to many. She was and will remain in the hearts of many a Mother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Friend, Caregiver, Active Listener, Bonus Mom, Advocate, a Powerful Principled Woman, Transformational Leader, Financial Literacy Mentor and most of all, a Woman of God.