Obituary of Sue Stone Funderburke

Hattie Sue Stone Funderburke, 88, of Mullins SC passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, 2020, in hospice care in Pooler GA. She went home to be with her Lord in Heaven, where she is reunited with her parents, husband, two of her sons, and so many others that have gone before her.

Sue was born in a farmhouse in Proctorville NC on July 27, 1931, the daughter of the late Robert H. Stone and Hattie Teva (Atkinson) Stone. Born during the depths of the depression, Sue’s father worked the land as a sharecropper and a carpenter. Her brother Ted came along in 1938. She grew up in and around Proctorville, attending Orrum High School in the late 40’s. She left home to attend nursing school in Charlotte. It was in Charlotte that she met Marvin Turner Funderburke, and she left nursing school to be married in January 1951. Four sons followed during the 1950’s – Michael in 1952, David in 1953, Randy in 1955 and Bob in 1957. She lost another son, Brian, at the end of a full-term pregnancy in 1959. As her sons grew to school age, Sue began work outside the home, at the Ford Motor Company and as a switchboard operator at Wachovia Bank in Charlotte. The family moved to Fort Worth, then Houston in the late 60’s, back to Charlotte in 1970, then to Tampa in 1972. Sue worked as a legal secretary in Tampa for the Trenam Simmons law firm, where she remained with a few breaks until her retirement in the mid-90s. She also worked with Marvin in several hospitality and dining businesses during the 70’s and early 80’s.

After Marvin’s untimely loss to cancer in 1984, Sue travelled extensively, first with friends and later in charitable work. Upon her retirement from the law firm, Sue moved to Mullins, not far from her Proctorville hometown, to be close to her Stone and Atkinson relatives, and to be near her brother Ted. She lived on the farm of her cousin Betty Stone McKenzie, and Betty’s husband Oscar. Betty was like a sister to Sue, each of them raising large families. In Mullins, Sue began a new career as a hospice volunteer, providing respite care to families and working as a receptionist at the Hospice House in Florence, South Carolina. She also spent several extensive periods as a volunteer in Berea KY on behalf of the Christian Appalachian Project. On more than one occasion she spent over a year in Berea as a volunteer.

Sue was known for keeping in touch with family and friends, and maintained friendships with people from all the places she lived during her long life. She would often say, “My middle name is GO.” She travelled across the country to spend time with a friend from her Berea days, or with a work associate from the 1960s in Charlotte, and made numerous trips from Mullins to Florida to visit her sons and her friends from the law firm and her Tampa church. She was active in the Mullins First Baptist Church, singing in the choir and faithfully attending her Sunday School class.

Sue was flamboyant, outspoken, and was known for wearing large and stylish hats and glasses. She was partial to the color red, even driving a number of red cars over the years. She was especially faithful in visiting friends and relatives whose health did not permit them to get out much. She routinely drove to visit her brother Ted, covering the 80-plus miles several times each month. She continued these visits until shortly before her death.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Sue was predeceased by her oldest son Michael Andrew Funderburke of Charlotte. She is survived by her sons, David Marvin Funderburke and his wife Mikki, of Hardeeville SC, Randy Stone Funderburke and his wife Brenda of Morganton NC, Robert Turner Funderburke and his wife Rhonda, of Riverview FL; and nine grandchildren, Brian Funderburke (Cristina) of Wingate NC, Tyler Funderburke (Brittney) of Monroe NC, Jeannette Rought of Liberty KY, Sharon Taylor (Derek) of Cumming GA, Nathan Funderburke (Jill) of Bradenton FL, Meagan Cutler (Stephen) of Montgomery AL, Jimmy Tucker (Ashley) of Citronelle AL, Lenee Parinno of Lakeland FL, and Robert Funderburke of Riverview FL; and sixteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Ted G Stone of Wilmington NC and nieces Amanda Stone-Secrest of Wilmington NC and Teva Stone of Chapel Hill NC.

Upon her passing, Sue’s remains were cremated, and her ashes will be buried next to her husband Marvin in Charlotte NC. A private family service will be scheduled for a later date.

If you would like to remember Sue, the family suggests that memorials be made in her memory to
McLeod Health Foundation
P.O Box 100551
800 East Cheves Street Suite 150
Florence, SC 29502-0551
Please indicate that your donation is for McLeod Hospice Services