It wasn’t all that long ago when Lucille Suggs was still living in the Fair Haven neighborhood that she loved.
Tucked away contentedly in her modest home, neighbors, friends, family were known to stop by for a visit. Then there were the police officers who had grown up knowing her as a loving, welcoming presence in the borough who would pop in to make sure that she was safe and cared for during a storm, bout of bad weather, or “just because.”
Mrs. Suggs not too long ago, after more than half a century there, left the Fair Haven home and community she loved in her 90s to be closer to her son and cared for in a nursing home where he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
She hit 100 in August of 2016 with a big smile on her face, surrounded by loved ones and missed dearly by Fair Havenites who had grown so accustomed to her warm grin, embracing, graceful manner and soulful sense of humor.
Lucille Brooks Suggs passed away on March 23. And she is coming home to Fair Haven tomorrow, Saturday, to be bid farewell at her church, Fisk Chapel AME Church, 38 Fisk St., with a viewing beginning at 9a.m. and funeral services to follow at 11. Interment will be at the Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet.
Her son, Dennis, posted the following tribute to his mother the day after her death …
“Last night at 11:30, the inimitable Lucille Brooks Suggs decided enough was enough and peacefully took her one woman show ‘to loftier climes.’
“After 100 years and 6 months of being a constant protector, inspiration, non-stop joke machine (I could never figure out where she learned all those, let alone remembered them) as well as an endless source of real POSITIVITY (You should have seen the aides guard her like she was the Queen of England as she declined this week at twin towers), I believe it’s safe to say she felt her time here was well spent, but alas, it was time to go.
“She will be well-remembered and sorely missed. I know if you asked her what to think she wouldn’t want mourning or solemnity, she’d want you to laugh(alot), love people, do kind things and live to the fullest.
“We will be bringing her home next weekend so that she can rest in final peace next to her partner of nearly 50 years, so they can get back to playing pinochle, something I’m guessing is already taking place. Enjoy the day, your friends and loved ones. Cheers!!!”
RIP, Mrs. Suggs. You, a forever Fair Haven friend and neighbor to many, will always be remembered as an embodiment of what this small town is all about.
The stage is set for area teen talent and Broadway stars to bring down the house at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) to benefit homeless youth with the third annual Night of FUTURE Broadway Stars.
The proceeds of musical extravaganza set for Monday, April 3 at 7 p.m. go to the homeless youth programs and services offered at Covenant House in Asbury Park, serving Asbury, Long Branch, Keansburg and other shore towns.
After a few gloomy, dank, rainy days, the sun came out on Wednesday, the tide was low and people, ducks and dogs took to a little solace in the sun down by the river in Rumson.
Take a look … (And don’t forget to click to enlarge!)
“Life is too short my friend …. you are now soaring with the angels, Debbie. Kind , soft spoken and the patience of a saint, we will miss you my friend.” It’s what one friend said in a Facebook post upon hearing of the news of longtime Monmouth Beach resident Debrah (Debbie) Hollen’s death.
A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging two men with a July 2015 Eatontown murder, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.
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