Susanah Mayberry Mead

1947 - 2017

Susanah Mayberry Mead

Indianapolis - Susanah Mayberry Mead, 70, died on December 23, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family. Susie was married to William John Mead (Jack) for 47 years, until his death in November 2014. They are survived by three daughters.

Susie was born on August 10, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Susanah Jameson Mayberry and Francis Thomas Mayberry. Susie attended Tudor Hall School for Girls and Smith College, and earned her JD at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis in 1976.

Susie led a distinguished career as a legal scholar in Indianapolis. She was a trailblazer, role model and leader at the McKinney School of Law, where she worked as a professor and administrator for more than 35 years. When she began her legal career, Susie was one of a handful of women who matriculated at the law school in 1972. Upon graduation, she clerked for two years for the Honorable Paul H. Buchanan, then chief judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals. Susie returned to the law school in 1978 as a legal writing instructor and served the institution in multiple roles over the years, including director of the legal writing program, tenured professor, associate dean for academic affairs and dean. Always ahead of her time, Susie was the first woman and first alumnus to serve as dean at the law school. Among her contributions to legal education was the creation of the Dean's Tutorial Society, one of the first organized, volunteer, peer tutoring efforts in a law school in the nation.

Susie was a dedicated member of Christ Church Cathedral. She was appointed as chancellor of Christ Church Cathedral and was a de facto legal advisor to the church for many years. Susie also served as an elected member of the Cathedral's vestry and a member of the church's Millennium Development Goals Committee. In her personal time, Susie was very active in the Christ Church hats for the homeless project knitting dozens of hats for homeless individuals in Indianapolis.

Susie was a consummate cook and entertainer, and hosted numerous parties for family and friends over her lifetime. She also put her entertaining skills to important use, bringing people together around important issues and causes. She and Jack opened their home to many dignitaries from around the world, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court, who had been invited to the IU McKinney School of law to lecture on legal education and discuss the role of women in the law, and Episcopal Bishop Zache Duracin of Haiti, who visited Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis in 2010 to discuss the rebuilding efforts in his community after the earthquake.

Susie was also a great supporter of the Indianapolis historic and arts community. She served as trustee to the Pension Fund of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local No. 30, as an elected member of the Indianapolis Garden Club, and as a member of the advisory cabinet to the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. Susie was an avid supporter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Opera, and the Indiana Repertory Theater.

Susie was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother; a passionate believer in women's rights; a gifted educator and supporter of advanced education; an ardent enthusiast of the arts; and a good and loyal friend. She is survived by her three daughters, Katherine (Holly) Mead (Michael McCaughan), Edith (Edie) Mead (Seth de Matties) and Sybil Mead (Dan Leraris), her seven grandchildren, her sister, Katherine (Kit) Mayberry, her sister-in-law Edith Holway and her brother-in-law Frank Mead. She will be sorely missed.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on January 8th, 2018 at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow at the Woodstock Club. In honor of their mother, the Mead daughters plan to support a scholarship at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law for women law students showing exceptional promise as leaders in the law. In lieu of flowers, contributions to this scholarship may be made in memory of Susanah Mead to the Indiana University Foundation, PO Box 6460, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6460. Arrangements entrusted to Flanner Buchanan - Broad Ripple.