Suzanne Randall Cross

Carolyn Suzanne Rhoads Randall Cross, 99, died peacefully on August 9, 2024, in Columbia.

Born in Yonkers, N.Y., on July 14, 1925, Suzanne was the third daughter of Charles Stanley Rhoads and Sally Kautsky Rhoads. She grew up in Albany, N.Y., graduated from the Albany Academy for Girls and earned a degree in sociology (in less than three years) from the University of Michigan where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. 

While visiting her sister in Knoxville, Tenn., Suzanne met Thomas Homer Randall, and after a whirlwind courtship, they were married six months later on Oct. 7, 1950, a marriage that lasted until his death 42 years later. After living in Atlanta for the first few years of their marriage, Suzanne and Tom moved to Charleston which would become Suzanne’s home for most of the next 71 years.

A few years after Tom’s death, Suzanne and her high school sweetheart and former fiancé, Charles “Chuck” Colvin Cross, reconnected and were married in 1995. Following Chuck’s death in 2009, Suzanne, the self-proclaimed “tough old bird” with “strong Czechoslovakian roots,” lived independently in Charleston until the age of 97, when she and her four-legged companion Precious moved into assisted living in Columbia.

Suzanne spent many years as a social worker in New York, New Orleans, Lafayette, La., and Charleston. She also taught third grade and gifted and talented students at W.B. Goodwin Elementary School in North Charleston. In retirement, she worked briefly as a tour guide at The Post and Courier and then volunteered at Charleston Interfaith Crisis Ministries (now One80 Place) which led to a paid position there with Project Prevent, a program aimed at keeping families from becoming homeless. She was successful in both of her careers but felt that raising her three children was her greatest accomplishment.

Suzanne’s interests and hobbies were wide-ranging. While growing up, she enjoyed spending her free time at the Albany Country Club riding horses, ice skating and playing tennis and golf. As an adult, she enjoyed being a part of the Ladies Nine-Hole Golf Association at the Country Club of Charleston and playing cards with her Tripoley group. Her other hobbies included traveling, sewing, knitting, cooking and baking. She was a voracious reader to the end. She was a long-time member of First (Scots) Presbyterian Church and enjoyed the many friendships she made there.

In addition to her two husbands, Suzanne was predeceased by her parents and her two older sisters Prudence Louise Rhoads and Elizabeth Ann Rhoads Van Steenburgh. She is survived by her three children Christine Randall McGee (Hall), Thomas H. Randall (Mary) and Carolyn Randall Dunlap (Roy “Dunny”); one grandson Wesley Woodham Randall; one granddaughter Margaret Randall Bagwell (Curt); one great-granddaughter Elizabeth “Lily” Rhoads Bagwell; her two younger sisters Sally Rhoads Ickes and Eileen Rhoads; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Christina Cross Kelly (Arthur) of Melbourne, FL, and Carolyn Cross Daly (Shawn) of Slingerlands, NY, and six step-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a stepson Charles “Chip” David Cross.

The family would like to thank the staff at Wildewood Downs and Heart of Hospice for their love, compassion and support of Suzanne during her final stage in life. 

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024 in First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends in the Molly Wier Hall following the service.  Burial will take place on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Ft. Johnson Road.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to One80 Place, Pet Helpers, the Charleston Animal Society, First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, or the charity of one’s choice.