Suzanne Rushing Plakon

Suzanne Rushing Plakon, 57, passed away while in the arms of her husband Scott and surrounded by her loving family on July 23, 2018. She was born the daughter of John Rushing and Zenaida Franco Rushing who had met when he was a soldier serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and she was a local Cuban resident. Susie was born in Pensacola and grew up in Key West. She graduated from Key West High School where she was on the Homecoming Court, was Head Cheerleader and won the award for Most School Spirit. After graduation, she moved to Orlando, attended UCF and then went into banking. She fully dedicated her life to Jesus Christ in 1982. She later met Scott Plakon when they were both serving as fellowship group leaders at Calvary Assembly in Winter Park. They married on July 20th, 1985 and went on to have six children. Music has always filled their home and their children's hearts, inspired by Susie. In 2008, her husband was elected to The Florida House of Representatives and Susie was by his side, participating in charitable endeavors and the legislative spouse prayer group. In 2014, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Susie decided to share her story with others to help bring awareness to the reality of this disease. Her story and courage in facing Alzheimer's has had a profound impact on the Alzheimer's awareness movement in Florida and beyond. Susie was predeceased by her father John Rushing and her sister Jeanne Rushing and is survived by Scott, her husband of 33 years, her children Erica, David, Jamison, John, Timothy and Jeanne, her mother Zenaida Franco Rushing, her brother Danny Rushing, her sister Debi Rushing Stolte and her granddaughter Emma Biernacki. A Celebration of Susie's Life will be held at Church in the Son, 4484 N John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL 32804 on July 29th at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org/goto/susieplakon.