Dr. Susan Willoughby

[Kevin H]

I was sad to just read this message. I have pleasant memories of Dr. Willoughby.

Sad News from the College Church of SDAs in South Lancaster, MA:

"Very sad news for our College Church community and family: Longtime College Church member and Atlantic Union College professor Dr. Susan Willoughby passed away at 8:30 this morning. Dr. Willoughby started the Social Work department at AUC and ran it for 25 years. We pray for her daughter, Juliette, who is a fellow CC member, her son Gerry, and the rest of Susan's loved ones.

[phkrause]

Yes really sad, read that this evening from a email from the CC. I understand that Juliette has not been well?? They didn't live to far from us, when we lived in Lancaster. Will be praying for the family.

[dgrimm60]

KEVIN H

I  am  sure  she  will be  missed  by family  and friend----i   will  be  praying  for the family

dgrimm60

[Kevin H]

South Lancaster-Susan Melita Fenton Willoughby fell asleep in the Lord on May 4, 2016 at Rose Monahan hospice in Worcester, Massachusetts following a brief illness. She is survived by her son Gerald Willoughby, her daughter Juliette Melita Willoughby, Daughter-in Law Joanne Allen-Willoughby and her grandchildren Daishawn and Michael Willoughby. She leaves her siblings Geraldine Grant, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, brothers Samuel and Kenneth Fenton and Elisabeth Christian of England. She leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews including Heidi Adora Fenton and Heather Demetria Fenton Campbell. She will be missed by many friends too numerous to mention.
Susan Melita Fenton Willoughby was born the fourth of seven children to Mabel (Harris) and Aaron Fenton on November 10, 1925 on the beautiful emerald isle of Montserrat in the Caribbean. She attended school on numerous islands including Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago. During that educational time she helped put herself through school by colporteur, something she and her brother Richard Fenton and Samuel Fenton had in common. Susan came to the states to pursue higher education, she started out at Oakwood College and later moved to Atlantic Union College to finish off her degree. She then went to Loma Linda to pursue medicine but that was a difficult time in the US. She ended up coming back east again working at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, working with Doctors Pincus and Romanoff doing research on the birth control pill. She went on to study at Clark University for a Master's degree and then to Harvard to obtain her doctorate in education. She knew that she wanted to work with people not with test tubes and she said that many times. In 1972 she became a member of the faculty at Atlantic Union College working in the behavioral sciences department. In 1978 she started working towards developing a social work department for the college. In 1982 she and her daughter Juliette Willoughby entered Boston University School of Social Work. What was truly amazing is that while she was studying to get her masters in social work so that the department would be accredited she also achieved a Masters degree in public health. Until 2007 she served Atlantic Union College faithfully. She could've gone so many other places but this was the place she loved and wished to give her life blood. Susan Willoughby lived a life of go-getting. This go-getting life was devoted to her family, to her church and to her students. She was one of the first women ordained as an elder of the College Church of Seventh-day Adventists, where she served for many years. Susan's other passions were reading and singing. She had perfect pitch and could also do so fresh. Susan will be remembered by her loving family, extended family, countless colleagues, students and friends whose lives she touched in numerable ways. A Memorial Service will be held at 5PM on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the College Church of Seventh-day Adventists, 337 Main St., Lancaster. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton.