Sue Adams Kendrick DeCuzzi

Sue Adams Kendrick DeCuzzi, 67, of Salisbury passed away Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Select Specialty at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem. Born February 5, 1949, she was the daughter of the late John Marion Kendrick, Sr. and Bette Adams Kendrick. A graduate of Shelby High School, Mrs DeCuzzi received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Special Education/Early Childhood Education from East Carolina University. She began her career as a teacher at the ECU Lab School in Greenville, NC A well respected award winning Special Education teacher for 39 years in the public schools of North Carolina and Virginia. She specialized in working with preschool and school age children who had been identified with Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Delays or Autism Spectrum Disorders. She served as a self-contained classroom teacher with Rowan-Salisbury Schools for many years with assignments at Overton, Landis and North Rowan Elementary Schools. Her last assignment was as a Pre-K Itinerant Special Education teacher traveling Rowan County working with students in their homes or daycare centers. Ms. DeCuzzi respected each child’s strengths and endeavored to meet their needs no matter what those needs might be. She thrived on the challenge of meeting these diverse needs and never turned any child away. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, NC. She enjoyed daily reading and working jigsaw puzzles and spend time with her companion Fenway, cooking, music, rescuing animals, going to the mountains, and spending time with her family and friends. She loved drawing, painting and was a collector of many thing including art and books. Those left to cherish her memory are her rescued K9 companion of 7 years, Fenway; daughter, Amy Hope Mann and husband Billy; granddaughter, Elizabeth Susan Belle Mann; great-grandchildren, Jaxon C. Mann and Parker W. Mann all of Roanoke Rapids; brother, John M. Kendrick, Jr. and wife Jan of Shelby; nephew John Adam Kendrick and wife Kristin of Cincinnati, OH. The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm Sunday, February 5, 2017 at the Summersett Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Faithful Friends, PO Box 3097, Salisbury, NC 28145 or Rowan County Special Olympics, c/o Jesse Byrd, 828 W. Jake Alexander Blvd.,Salisbury, NC 28147 Summersett Funeral Home is serving the DeCuzzi family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com

Sue Adams Kendrick DeCuzzi

February 5, 1949 - February 2, 2017