SUSAN DIFFEY MARLOWE,
always early to the party and late for the train, finally got to go to heaven on June 30, 2020, after a nearly 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s dementia. Although she had long not been her true self, a glimmer of Susu remained until the end, always ready to talk nonsense with anyone and friendly to everyone. She was dearly loved by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Susan was born in Bentonville, Ark., to John Alexander Diffey and Joella Bryan Berry Diffey. Susan had two sisters: her self-described “first friend,” Jo Alexander, and the youngest and last “Diffey girl,” Laura Mazzanti. Susan, who loved her sisters dearly, would willingly admit that Jo was the better athlete and Laura was the beauty, though all three sisters were striking. The Diffey girls were fast friends all their lives.
Susan graduated from Forrest City High School after a storied cheerleading career and membership in Delta Beta Sigma Sorority. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., and later married Charles H. Johnson Jr, also a graduate of Forrest City High. Susan and Charles had three children and Susan reveled in the arduous task of raising a family. The character and intellect of her children are a testament to her steely resolve to raise a loving family.
Birthdays, Easter, Christmas-every celebration- was an occasion for arcane family traditions, such as leaving letters to Santa in the stove for Santa’s elves to deliver to the North Pole, ugly Easter egg competitions, and the Birthday Fairy leaving gifts at the foot of her children’s beds. For Susan, magic and whimsy were the order of the day. These traditions, and too many others to count, continue in the families of her loving children.
Susan was a child of the Delta and so drilled into her children (with varying degrees of success) the importance of kindness, manners, and the proper way to pronounce Memphis and Louisville. As a direct result of this parenting, her children were able to garner the love of spouses she would always love as her own.
Susan had a long career with the Janet Jones Company which was the home to her second family. Many of her dearest friends, of whom there are too many to mention, worked with and supported Susan throughout her long goodbye with prayer and well wishes. Susan was a Sustainer in the Junior League of Little Rock, an avid reader and staunch supporter of literacy and public schools and a participant in the Volunteers in Public Schools program. She contributed to many worthy causes and was an essential member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church.
Susan is preceded in death by her hero father, World War II Veteran, Captain John Alexander Diffey, U.S. Army (Gramp), wonderful mother, Joella Bryan Berry Diffey (Mimo), her beautiful sister Laura Diffey Mazzanti, her second husband John Marlowe, and her beloved Scottish Terriers, Maggie and Josh.
Susu, as she became known to us all, is survived by her sister Jo Diffey Alexander and her children Charles H. Johnson III and his wonderful wife Jill Gadberry Johnson, John F. Johnson and his beautiful wife Jill Thompson Johnson, and Bryan Johnson Dietz and her incomparable husband Richard Evans Dietz. Despite strong competition from her children, Susu loved her grandchildren most of all. Rebecca Bryan Johnson Webber and her husband Todd, Samantha Dee Johnson, Charlotte Noelle Johnson, Ann Claire Johnson, Eli Jacob Johnson, and Eva Claire Dietz live on as shining examples of all that Susu has brought to her family.
Susan’s life will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or Humane Society of Pulaski County are appreciated.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, ruebelfuneralhome.com.