Henrietta Ford Maus, known by her nickname Susie to family and friends, passed away on January 2, 2024, after a short illness.
Susie was born on July 26, 1937 in Albemarle, North Carolina to Lester Shipley Ford and Mildred Forbis Ford. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1959 from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. She married Jim Maus after graduation. They settled in Raleigh and bore two sons together, Reginald Scott and Brian Thomas.
In the mid-1960s, Jim’s career took them to middle Tennessee where they lived for thirty years prior to retiring in Williamsburg, Virginia.
In Tennessee, Susie taught third grade for over twenty years and supervised a summer educational program for the children of migrant workers. Her students and colleagues considered her an excellent teacher and good friend. She was twice named Teacher of the Year during her tenure at Farrar School. Many of her students continued contact with her after they left her classroom.
After she retired from teaching, Susie wrote mystery novels set in places she had lived and loved, like Winchester, Tennessee and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her book-signings in Colonial Williamsburg gave her hours of joy.
Susie was active in the Williamsburg chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and was able to trace family lines back to Colonial times.
Susie was a loving wife, mother, aunt, educator and author who lived a full life. She will be mourned by many. She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, Jim, and by her eldest son Scott.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, at 2 p.m. at Bucktrout of Williamsburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army (216 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188).
