OBITUARY

This morning, as I sat with a second cup of coffee and the newspaper, expecting a quiet half hour before resuming my morning tasks, my telephone rang. It was Mary Purcell, a former member of Georgia Writers Association and a long time friend of Jeannie Sutton Hogue. She called to tell me that Jeannie has passed away.

Following is a combination of her official obituary interspersed with some personal comments from me.

Jeannie Sutton Hogue, 55, of Gordon, Georgia passed away early Wednesday morning in a Milledgeville, Georgia hospital. Daughter of the late James Thomas & Geneva Reynolds Sutton, she was a native of Albany but had made her home in Wilkinson County most of her adult life.

She was a writer of mystery novels and had two published books to her credit; One Hell of a Mystery and Kudzu Murders: A Jesse Statham Mystery. She was a past President of the Georgia Writer's Association.

Jeannie was an unusual, even remarkable woman. Unique in attitude, bearing and speech, her comments were frequently surprising and most often quite funny. She had many health problems which caused her to curtail her activites but nothing stopped her pen. Plus, Jeannie was an avid reader and a lover of animals.

A number of years ago when I went to visit her, she had a surprise waiting for me... a nearly wild but loving "snowshoe" (part Siamese) kitten who I named Miss YumYum. As I prepared to leave, we put the kitten into a large box so that I could comfortably make the drive back to Atlanta.

As fate would have it, driving the country roads from Gordon on my way home, there in the road I saw a small black puppy which I rescued from certain death. Before I resumed my drive I stopped at a couple of the rural houses, inquiring if anyone knew who owned this round and wiggling black ball of tongue and fur. No one claimed her and so, christening her "Road Kill", "Rodi" for short, I went home.

As Rodi grew my husband, who did not want a dog in the first place, became unhappy. She would scratch at the door of the deck trying to get into the house and eventually her claws damaged the door. Finally, he put his foot down and asked me to find Rodi a new home.

I called Jeannie, whose amenable husband and country residence offered ample room and safety for what was becoming a big dog. So, Jeannie gave me Miss YumYum (who passed away last September) and I gave her Rodi, who I believe is still a happy country dog.

Jeannie is survived by her loving husband, to whom she was deeply devoted: John E. Hogue, III of Gordon, Georgia and her brothers: James R. (Judy) Sutton and Scott Anthony (Cathy) Sutton of Macon; her sister: Brenda (Wayne) Bishop of Macon, and her Mother-in-law: Mrs. Wally Hogue of Gordon. Jeannie also left ten Nieces & Nephews and many saddened friends. You'll be missed, Jeannie. We all loved you.