Sue Westerfield Black

Sue Westerfield Black passed away on Monday, June 8 in the peaceful company of her family.  She was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor just 8 weeks prior.  She was not in pain and her family was able to spend those precious few months with her.

She was a wonderful cook, baker, gardener and bird enthusiast.  She loved nothing more than to bring fresh cinnamon rolls and flowers to neighbors, coworkers and card buddies.  Sue was always on a mission to make us feel loved and important.

Born in Junction City Kentucky, Sue was one of 13 children of Charles and Carrie Westerfield.  She married Kenneth Black in 1956 and they had three children.

In Kentucky, Sue was a middle school cafeteria manager, making homemade dishes on a large scale – the antithesis of what public school food was for most of us!  After moving to Charlotte in 1985, Sue completed an associate’s degree in nursing at CPCC and was a cardiology medical assistant until her retirement.  Patients and coworkers alike benefited from her compassionate, personal attention.

Weather permitting, family and friends are invited to services at her home 10:00am Tuesday, June 16. If it is raining, services will take place at Gaskin Funeral Services, 14617 Lawyers Road, Matthews.  Feel free to bring hand-picked flowers from your own gardens if you would like, but no funeral arrangements please. Vases will be provided.

A Celebration of Life event will be held for family in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday June 19.  Please contact the family for more information.

Donations in Sue’s honor can be made to Matthews Help Center where she volunteered some years ago.  We will have a donation box at her services.  If you cannot attend and want to donate, please mark your checks in the name of Sue Black and mail to:

Matthews Help Center

PO Box 91

Matthews, NC 28106

Sue is survived by Kenneth Black, her husband of 63 years, her children Sherrie Webster (Jeffrey Webster), Kerry Black, and Debra Black (Bill Klink) as well as her sisters, Dorothy Wilson, Julia Henderson (Robin Henderson), Shirley Martin and Thelma Kines.  She has four grandchildren: Jennifer Webster, Sarah Webster, Mai Klink, and Anh Klink; four step grandchildren: Tim Klink (Scott Scarano), Sydney Wiechman (Ben Wiechman), Emily Bilhorn (Clement Bilhorn), and Jesse Klink; one step great grandchild, Silas Bilhorn.

Thank you again for all the love you have shared with Sue.  Remember her by adding joy to someone’s life every day.  Not sure what to do?  Just say to yourself “What would Sue do?”