Suzanna C. Coonce

Suzanna C. Coonce, 76, of Jonesboro, ascended to Heaven Sunday evening at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Born in Paris, France, Suzanna has lived over 50 years in the United States. She initially lived in Jonesboro and then resided in Little Rock and Hot Springs for several years before returning to Jonesboro in 2004. Suzanna was a Registered Nurse and served as a civilian nurse for the U.S. Army in Paris. Suzanna later worked as a RN for Missouri-Pacific Railroad in Little Rock and for St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro.

Suzanna earned Bachelor and Master degrees from Cambridge University and Wales University in England in nursing, French, Spanish and psychology.

Suzanna was a member of Valley View Church of Christ and had formerly taught Sunday school at Frierson Street Church of Christ. She was a published poet and a free lance writer and was a member of the Arkansas Poets Roundtable and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. She was a volunteer for the Hot Springs Pregnancy Crisis Center, the Hot Springs Womens Shelter and the Garland County Jail Ministry. Suzanna was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Buddy” Coonce, and her parents: Joseph and Irene Lontine Denis.

Survivors include her daughter, Cecilia S. Alexander Walter and her husband Greg of Jonesboro;
1 brother, Joseph Denis of Germany;
1 sister, Mary Jo Denis of Paris, France;
3 grandchildren: Ray Dukemeiner, John Alexander and Stacia Holmes-Slater;
7 great grandchildren: Nathaniel Lawson, Logan Alexander, Lucas Thompson, Mykaela Slater, Trevor Alexander, Trace Alexander and Carson Forehand;

2 nephews: Loquie Denis and Alexi Schourichan; and 1 niece: Michelle Denis;

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in Emerson Memorial Chapel with David Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers include John Alexander, Randy Simpkins, Tim Spencer, Steve Talley, Terry Smith and Donald Forehand. Honorary pallbearers include Greg Walter, Lucas Thompson, Trevor Alexander, Logan Alexander, Trace Alexander and Daniel Hermann.

Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 until service time at the funeral home.

For lasting memorials, please consider the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, the Valley View Church of Christ, the Arkansas Poetry Club or the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.