Susan Donnelly Traynham Joseph

Susan Donnelly Traynham Joseph passed away peacefully June 22nd 2020 in her home in Greenville, SC. She was born in Newport News, VA on December 5, 1944 to late William H. and Lorraine Traynham. She grew up in the College Place Neighborhood in Hampton, VA. She spent her youth sailing and boating from the Hampton Yacht Club, going to Buckroe Beach and Virginia Beach. Susan was always fun loving, and a free spirit with an infectious laugh. Susan attended Willis dances and all the events at Hampton High School, where she was honored to be elected as the Basketball Queen and also did activities like cheerleading and K-Club.
She lived many places in Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Alaska and for the last 10 years lived in South Carolina. She graduated from New College in Florida, and had a love for writing sonnets, painting, and sculpting. She made a career out of welding working on projects like Calvert Cliffs, Carter Creek Gas Plant, Rumford Mill Expansion, the Iroquois Project and was one of the few women to work on the Alaskan Pipeline. Combining all her creativity and her craft she welded a piece that was recognized for an award presented in Washington DC. She enjoyed continuing her education at St. Mary’s College (St. Mary’s City, MD) expanding her English Major and play-writing and exploring ancient history at Furman University (Greenville, SC) with the OLLI Senior lifelong learning program.
Susan always said she did not have the life she thought she would have, but that it had been interesting. She had major life changing impact on some and gave loving hope, strength and material assistance to others who encountered the same life struggles she had. She will most be remembered for her eclectic, artistic surroundings she created everywhere she stayed, her whimsical charm and her independence were apparent standout characteristics, no one ever forgets meeting Susan. Her beliefs and feelings were always shared as she was a fascinating story teller and her series of magnificent writings in form of sonnets portrayed her real life autobiography. Her commitment to a holistic lifestyle and love for nature surely lengthened her life. Embracing Native American spiritualism allowed her to calmly welcome her transition to joining loved ones in what she knew to be her “Next Universe”. Moving to her beautiful hilltop home in Greenville, brought her to her personal Eden where she could gaze at the mountains, lovingly tend to her flower gardens, grow her own herbs and berries, collect and play indigenous flutes and care for animals. She loved to feed the cats from the neighborhood and was known for always walking with her best companion at the time, she had a lifetime of dogs. She was an obvious dog lover as she was continually spotted with one hanging out the window when out for a drive in her other lifetime pal, her truck.
Susan was married and widowed to William “Bud” Joseph. She is survived by her daughter Bonnie Johnson and granddaughter Tayla, step daughter Autumn Joseph, sister Polly Traynham, Niece Tamara White and husband Antoine and two kids Jaeden and Journey, nephew Tyron Thomas and two kids Taryn and Drake. The family is appreciative to St. Lutheran Hospice, as well as all who loved her, especially to those neighbors and friends that took time to care for her.
A casual ceremony to celebrate her life will take place in her garden on Thursday, October 1st 2020 at 5:30pm. For more info please contact 410-610-7562. Please send fond memories to hairistamara@comcast.net by 9/30/20.