Obituary: Susan Elizabeth Coward

Susan Elizabeth Coward, 73, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at New Testament Baptist Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Susan Elizabeth Coward was born in Sampson County in May of 1952. She was a loving daughter, a faithful Christian wife, and a wonderful loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She attended and graduated from Cocke County High School in May of 1971 in Newport, TN, and then preceded to marry the love of her life, Steven Douglas Coward at Calvary Baptist Tabernacle in August of 1971, where she remained a faithful and loving wife for 53 years, 10 months, and 12 days. She attended Lenoir Community College in Kinston and graduated with her CNA1 degree and then was employed by Health Force. Susan also worked for many retail establishments through the years including the Blythe House, HStadium, Allstate Insurance, and Goudy’s in Kinston. She was also a faithful member of New Testament Baptist Church for 33 years where she loved singing in the church choir. She also loved spending time with her family as a mother and grandmother and often would take extended vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern TN.

Our mother lived and had a very blessed life until she was promoted to glory and passed into the arms of Jesus very peacefully in the early morning hours of June 12, 2025.

Susan was born in 1952 to her parents, Raymond and Ruth Taylor of Clinton, NC. She was later adopted in 1965 by Ted and Louise Snyder of Newport, TN. She is preceded in death by both her birth and adoptive parents.

Susan is survived by her beloved husband, Steven Douglas Coward; daughter, Cheryl Coward Wade (Harvey Ray Wade); son, Samuel David Coward; sisters, Wyonia Snyder Hicks of Morristown, TN, and Alice Ray Turner of Clinton, NC; grandchildren, Brittany Wade Taylor, Tiffany Lynn Wade, Daniel Ray Wade; great-grandchildren, Adrianna Shay Taylor, and Haven Jade Wade, and loving nieces and nephews, Kayla LaShea Hicks Bolinger, Ryne Hicks, both of Morristown, TN, and David Turner of Clinton, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the New Testament Baptist Church Missions Fund, 126 Neuse Rd, Kinston, NC 28501.