Susie Basinger

Sara Henley Basinger, affectionately known as Susie, passed away on May 3, 2025. The family is having a service on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:30 PM until the time of the service.

Sara was born on November 22, 1937 to the late George and Jennye Gullette Henley. She may have been born "Sarah"; but, she decided in the 3rd grade that name no longer suited her. She decided to drop the "h"; until, she was forced to add it back upon moving to Georgia. She grew up surrounded by love with her older brother, George Henley. She would proudly tell anyone that she was the tallest one in her 5th grade class, which must have been her last year to grow in height. In 1957, she married William "Bill" Arthur Basinger; and, together they built a beautiful life.

She was an accountant for a bank as well as Mississippi University for Women (MUW). Although she officially retired from the MUW, she jokingly said that she never really stopped working; as, she dreamt of filing papers or filling out forms for the rest of her life. Also, her checkbook was always balanced down to the penny.

Bill and Susie shared 46 wonderful years of marriage. They were blessed with four amazing children: William (Bill) Basinger, Edith Romans, Cynthia (Cindy) Hartley, and Henry (Cliff) Basinger. After raising their children on Chestnut Street, Bill and Susie moved to the country to have some space. Their house was never wanting for loved ones or company to come by for a visit. Holidays were filled with amazing cooking, her banana pudding and cornbread dressing in particular, and laughter.

After Bill's passing in 2003, she moved to Warner Robins where she lived a full life. She made many friends at the pool that she attended for exercise. She also volunteered as a Faircracker at the Georgia National Fair for many years and as an usher for the circus. She adopted two beautiful dogs, Beauregard and Phoebe, whom she loved and brought joy to many. She was able to enjoy yearly trips to the beach with family to watch the waves, not swim. Moreover, she was able to watch all ten of her grandchildren grow-up and see several of them marry and have children of their own. She never missed an important event in their lives; and, she was always willing to help when needed, like when she was asked to be a flower-girl as a grandmother.

Her life will continue to be an example for many as will her faith in the Lord; furthermore, her uncanny inability to have a plant survive for long will not be soon forgotten. 

She is survived by her brother George (Margaret) Henley; Children: Bill (Carol) Basinger, Edith (Troy), Romans Cindy (Steve) Hartley, and Cliff (Stefanie) Basinger; Grandchildren: William Thomas " W.T." (Erin) Basinger, Jeremy "Scott" (Sarah) Basinger, Charles "Lee" (Amanda) Basinger, Kenneth Romans, Sara (Jonathan) Holland, Jennifer Cooper, Kristen (Brett) Scott, Jonah Basinger, Jake Basinger, Tallulah Basinger; Great-grandchildren: Taytum, Tenley, Andrew, Jordan, Ezra, Shiloh, Charlie, Travis, Elizabeth, Braxton, Kinsley, Hartley, and Cullen; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that a donation be made to St. Jude’s, East End Baptist Church (Columbus), or  the Lowndes County Humane Society.