Susan Farrell
Portrait of Susan Farrell
Memorial by Faye
Susan Farrell was so funny to me. She loved to crochet, read and was an avid Scrabble player.
Susan loved her family, happily talked about them to anyone who would listen.
I have known Susan for over thirty years — we shared crochet patterns, talked about good books we have read, and played many games of Scrabble.
Susan was looking forward to going home to be with her family. She is missed.
Memorial by Amy Black
I wanted to also write to you about sue. she lived just doors away from me and got around quite well to be her age, she had fun playing cards and loved Scrabble. I use to always tease her because she swore by the Scrabble dictionary and I personally believe that dictionary is GARBAGE, that it is just a bunch of letter put together to form sounds that don't have real definitions. but she loved it cause it validated every word she used --EVER.
Suzi hadn't been sick AT ALL until she just all the sudden was. I wish someone would have listened better and got her the help she needed I miss her smile that never lacked its lipstick. a lady to the end. she always wore her lipstick. god keep her and give her all her jewels please she earned them honestly. ~~~amy black
From Mourning Our Losses:
Susan Farrell spent a large portion of her life and her last days in Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan. On Wednesday April 8, 2020, she passed away at 74 years old.
Susan is remembered by her laugh and being an endearing friend. An anonymous friend writes to the UCLA Covid Behind Bars Project, “She was one of my best friends during my 2 year stay. We played scrabble almost every day, often 2 or 3 times a day, and I loved her laugh.”
Susan Farrell was also a passionate advocate against domestic violence and devoted her life to voicing her support for survivors. Her life is mourned by domestic violence survivors including Kelle Lynn, the executive director of Justice Thru Storytelling. Carol Jacobsen, the director of the Michigan Women’s Justice & Clemency Project, told the Detroit Free Press, “Susan Farrell did not deserve to die in prison.” Many advocated on her behalf for clemency and supported her to educate others on intimate partner violence. Her legacy is remembered as others continue to call for justice for domestic abuse survivors.
This part of the memorial was written by MOL team member Gabrielle Smith with information from reporting by Kristen Jordan Shamus in the Detroit Free Press and from an anonymous contributor to UCLA’s Death by Incarceration Tracker.
Original artwork by MOL team member EJ Joyner.