Susanna Renshaw Barnett

1931 - 2024

Susanna Renshaw Barnett, 92, of Germantown Tennessee passed away March 26, 2024 at The Village of Germantown surrounded by family and loving caretakers.

Susanna was born in Memphis on April 22, 1931, to George Andrew Renshaw and Lorena Pearl McCormick Renshaw. The youngest of three children, Sue is preceded into heaven by her adored older siblings, Paul Andrew Renshaw and sister Lureta "Rita" Jones (Asbury). Sue attended Snowden Elementary school and St Mary's Episcopal High School. Smart, pretty, stylish and popular at Southwestern College (now Rhodes) she was a member of A O Pi sorority and had the honor of being elected K.A. Rose. Sue lived in Memphis with her first husband of 22 years, Michael Clive Ossorio, co-owner of Arrow Glass Boat Co. and their three children Susan Lynn Ossorio, Michael Jess Ossorio (Pat) both of Germantown, Tennessee and Katherine Lisa "Kaky" Wakefield (Walt) of Dallas, Texas. A devoted wife and doting fun-loving mother, she was also an active member of numerous garden, luncheon and social clubs. She was an avid lifelong bridge player. Sue was blessed to have a second great love in her life with her second husband, William Carr "Big Bill" Barnett. They shared 31 years of joy and laughter. She became the proud stepmother to William Carr "Bill" Barnett Jr. (Joan) of Collierville, TN, and Billie Jo Gaia (Skip) of Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas.

She especially appreciated the incredibly warm and compassionate staff and caretakers throughout the Village who made her life both happy and peaceful. Above all, Sue valued close family ties and relished not only her role as mother, but also as aunt to her niece Patte Stone (Bubba) of Coldwater Mississippi, and her nephews Tripp Jones of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas and Drew Renshaw (Joanie) of Rossville, Tennessee. Proud grandmother of eight, Alec Ossorio (Ellen), Will Wakefield, Michael Wakefield, Laura Galbreath, Stephen Gaia (Kacey), Emily Brimm (Stephen), Britt Barnett, and Melanie Fisher (Cory) as well as great-grandmother to 17 including newborn namesake Susanna James Ossorio.

Sue's last 14 years were happily spent as a resident of the Village of Germantown where she was able to once again be the sweet, smiling, stylish, social butterfly. She enjoyed festivities in the company of both old friends like former neighbors, Janie and Merlin Cohen, as well as new friends especially her best friend, Ms. Sue Eubanks. They became known as "The two Sues. Everyone who knew Sue Barnett will treasure her memory and remember her wit, style, kindness, courage, and Joie de Vivre.

The family invites friends to make donations in Susanna's memory to St. Jude or the charity of the giver's choice.

Private family interment will take place at Memorial Park at a later date.