Susan "Susie" Dean Tilley

Susan “Susie” Dean Tilley passed away peacefully at home on September 30, 2026, leaving behind a family she loved fiercely, a lifetime of memories, and a little piece of Alabama that she carried with her wherever life took her.

Born January 6, 1964, in Alabama, Susie was the daughter of the late Daniel Dean and LaRue Henderson. She grew up as one of five children, surrounded by the personalities, laughter, disagreements, and lifelong bonds that come with a big family. Alabama was home for most of Susie’s life, and no matter how far away she traveled, it always held a special place in her heart.

As a young woman, Susie was a high school cheerleader, but it was on a softball field that one of the most important chapters of her life began. That was where she met Eddie Tilley. A ballgame led to a friendship, friendship grew into love, and together Susie and Eddie built a life and a love story that would span decades.

Susie spent much of her working life managing convenience stores. She was hardworking, dependable, and knew how to keep things—and people—in order. But the job she treasured most could never be measured by a paycheck or a title. Susie was, above all else, a caretaker.

Her family was the center of her world.

She was a loving and devoted wife, a caring mother and grandmother, and the kind of mother-in-law a person could count as a blessing. She loved children and had a natural instinct for caring for those around her. She raised her own children with plenty of love, but also with the clear understanding that they were expected to behave. Susie was kind and considerate, but no one who knew her would have mistaken that kindness for weakness. She had a strong spirit, knew her own mind, and was certainly no pushover.

Her home reflected much of who she was. Susie liked things neat, clean, and organized, and she knew how to make a house feel like home. The kitchen was one of the places where she especially shined. She was an amazing cook whose specialty was good old-fashioned Southern cooking—the kind of food made not simply to fill a plate, but to gather people together.

Susie also had a tremendous love for animals. Through the years, her family included several dogs and cats, along with a rooster who probably tested that love more than most. She wasn't especially fond of his constant crowing, but his place in the family became another one of those stories sure to bring a smile when Susie is remembered.

When she had time to settle in and watch television, Susie enjoyed crime dramas and true-crime documentaries. And when football season arrived, there was little question where her loyalty belonged. Susie loved Alabama football, and “Roll Tide!” was more than just a Saturday saying.

Several years ago, Susie and Eddie left Alabama and moved to North Carolina to be closer to their son Josh and his family. Being near those she loved made North Carolina special, and she was grateful for the time and memories they shared here. Still, there are some places that become part of who we are, and for Susie, there truly was no place quite like “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Those who loved Susie will remember far more than the dates that marked her life. They will remember a woman who cared for people. A woman who worked hard, kept a clean house, cooked a wonderful meal, loved her animals, spoke her mind, expected her children to mind theirs, cheered for the Crimson Tide, and loved her family with her whole heart.

Those everyday things—the meals, the conversations, the laughter, the familiar routines, the stories told again and again—are the things that now become treasures.

Susie is survived by her beloved husband, Eddie Tilley; her children, Joshua Tilley and wife Susie, Michael Tilley, Tyler Tilley, and Jayla Thornton; her grandchildren, Kimberly Tilley, Lexie Colvell, Landon Colvell, and Audrie Colvell; her great-grandchild, Sawyer; her sisters, Kathy Galloway and Connie Henderson; her brother, Kenneth Camp; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel Dean and LaRue Henderson; her sisters, Johnnie Hand and Sherry Blakely; and her brother, Earl “Bubba” Henderson.

The family will gather in Susie’s beloved Alabama for a Celebration of Life, with the date and time to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Susie’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org, a fitting way to honor a woman who held such a special place in her heart for children.

Though the people who loved Susie would gladly have asked for more time, the life she shared with them remains—in the family she nurtured, the traditions she passed along, the stories that will continue to be told, and the countless ordinary moments that now mean so much.

And somewhere in those memories will always be the sound of family gathered around the table, an Alabama football game playing nearby, something good cooking in the kitchen, perhaps a dog or cat underfoot—and, if that rooster had anything to say about it, a little crowing in the background.

Sweet Home Alabama will always be part of Susie’s story. But wherever her family gathers and remembers her with love, a little bit of home will be there, too.

Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care is honored to serve the family and friends of Susie Tilley.