May the Road Rise to Meet You…

On December 20th, Susie Woodall, a friend, confidante and shining light for so many Gwynn Valley campers, parents and staff passed away. For many she was the reassuring voice on the phone, helping parents to feel comfortable sending their children to camp. For international staff she was a constant source of support, information, guidance and encouragement before, during and well after the summer. For all staff she was a source of history, humor, laughter and compassion. For the leadership team she was a great friend and companion for many summers. For directors of Gwynn Valley, she was a source of wisdom, guidance and continuity. For all she knew and loved, she was a dear friend through both the joys and challenges of life. We are grateful for Susie and for her daughters who shared her so generously with the Gwynn Valley community.

To celebrate Susie’s life and her impact on our community, we invite you to gather at Gwynn Valley on August 21st. We will have a celebration of her life at 2:00 in the Lodge and refreshments together afterword. Please RSVP to her daughter Lisa at l_a_woodall@hotmail.com Your RSVP will enable us to accurately plan for this gathering.

May the road rise to meet you …and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. We will miss you Susie, but we will never forget you or the way you made us feel.

The obituary from the local newspaper is below.

Susie Gold (Abrams) Woodall

September 25, 1928 ~ December 20, 2020 (age 92)

Brevard, NC resident Susie Abrams Woodall, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020 from complications of heart disease.
Susie first arrived in Brevard in 1953 when she and her husband Wade were recruited by Miss Mary Gwynn to join Gwynn Valley Camp as summer staff. They, along with daughter Carol, enjoyed five years of summer camp experience that evolved into a lifetime relationship for Susie. In 1988, Susie became a year-round resident of Brevard when she joined the staff of Gwynn Valley as a full time office administrator. As such, she was often the first person summer staff and campers meet. She retired from Camp in December 2007. Gwynn Valley offered the opportunity to form lifelong relationships that she treasured beyond measure.
Retirement didn’t last too long before she joined the very fun staff at the Transylvania Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center volunteer staff where she and her colleagues loved their time meeting the many visitors to the land of waterfalls. She told so many funny stories about the oddest question of the weekend visitors asked.
She was a true North Carolinian. She was born in eastern North Carolina, graduated from South Edgecombe High School, attended Atlantic Christian College (now Barton) and lived in Littleton, Warrenton, Raleigh and Durham. Wade’s work took them to Palatine, Illinois and retirement took them to Greenville, SC. Following a divorce, Susie settled in her favorite place, Brevard. In 2003 she married Bernie Simmons whom she met at Gwynn Valley. He was an unexpected light in her life that shone brightly, only not long enough. He predeceased her in 2005.
Susie is survived by her daughters, Donna Henderson, Lisa Woodall and Carol Holmes, grandson John Henderson and brother Frank Abrams (Judy).