Learn, Suzanne Ashby

Suzanne Ashby Learn, 80, entered Heaven peacefully early in the morning of July 15, 2015. She was a native of New Orleans, LA, born July 24, 1934, and made her home the last 42 years in Radford, VA. She was the youngest of three children born to Mr. Antonio Ashby and Mrs. Ida Bruno Ashby.

She graduated with honors from Sophie B. Newcomb College in New Orleans, and received her Master’s in Education from Tulane University, with 30 hours towards her doctorate. An elementary school teacher of 38 years in the City of New Orleans and Radford Public School Systems, Suzanne was a passionate advocate for education, the poor and social causes that affected her communities. She retired from teaching in 2001, and devoted this time to her family and friends. A wonderful cook and entertainer at her home, this is what made Suzanne most happy, and this was nowhere more apparent than when her granddaughters came to visit. Kind, caring and compassionate, she was a strong and beautiful woman, family member and friend to those who knew her.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her father, Antonio, her mother, Ida, and her husband, Dr. William Maurice Learn. She is survived by her eldest brother Richard Ashby, and his wife Janis, of Baton Rouge, LA; brother Eugene Ashby, and his wife Carolyn, of Hartwell, GA; her son, Eugene Christopher Ashby Learn; daughter-in-law, Nicole Larson Learn; granddaughters, Elizabeth Ashby Learn and Isabella Larson Learn; and nearly 20 nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the United States.

Funeral Mass will be held at 3pm Monday, July 20 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 1740 Tyler Rd, Christiansburg, VA 24073 with Rev. Jaroslaw “Jarek” Nowacki, officiating. Interment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum, 5555 Lee St, Dublin, VA 24084. The family will receive friends from 5 pm to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory, 120 West Main Street, Radford, VA

The family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com