A Life Story

Suzanne Anderson EstusSuzanne Anderson Estus, lovingly known as "Mimi", was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, to Mary Kathryn Anderson, a devoted nurse, and Charles Randolph Anderson, a compassionate pediatrician. Raised in Virginia, she carried the warmth and grace of her Southern roots throughout her life.Suzanne met her beloved husband, Richard Estus, in Richmond, Virginia, where they both worked at an advertising agency-Richard selling billboards for Ted Turner and Suzanne as a media buyer. Their love story began on a blind skiing date at The Homestead, where a Southern girl and a man from upstate New York found a lifetime of adventure together. They married in 1962 and later moved to Atlanta before settling in Savannah in 1969 to raise their three daughters.A woman of impeccable taste and boundless creativity, Suzanne had a deep love for decorating and antiquing. She shared her passion with others through The Mulberry Tree, an antique shop she owned on River Street for a decade. She found joy in her community, actively participating in Isle of Hope Methodist Church's Day on the Island, The Huntington Club, and Park Place Dress Shop. Whether crabbing and fishing along the Vernon River, hunting for treasured antiques, or making Christmas magical for her loved ones, Suzanne embraced life with warmth and joy.She and Richard spent years restoring their early 1800s home, creating a haven filled with history, family, and heart on the Vernon River. Their home became a place that would inspire worldly collectors and mesmerize grandchildren alike with storied trinkets and collectibles, and family friends with the beautiful camellia trees, hydrangea plants, swimming on summer afternoons, and hosting many family gatherings on the porch. Mimi had a way of making everything feel special, with life's occasions made even more memorable-whether it was an oyster roast or a baby shower, each gathering was filled with her signature warmth and charm.Suzanne's love and legacy live on in her cherished family: her husband, Richard Estus; Julie and Frank Kehoe; Taylor and Cale Thurber, Quinn and Jett, Tatum and Malcolm McDowell; Sally and Ross Payne; Suttle and Fulton, Austin and Randall Slimp, Estus and Sawyer; Kent and Stephen Buttimer; Stephen and Margaret, and Sims.We love you, Mimi. Your love, laughter, and special light will forever be in our hearts.In lieu of flowers, please make all donations to Isle of Hope Methodist Church or Hospice House.A private service will be held by the family.