Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

June 28, 2023

CHARLOTTE - Sue Geitner Dunaway was born December 1, 1927, in Hickory, NC to Clement Geitner and Elizabeth Barkley. From a young age, Sue was a natural artist and performer: singing, dancing, and writing skits and rhymes with her younger sister, Cissy. Her mastery of words stayed with her for life, as she shared her clever poems and jingles with her children, grandchildren and friends for birthdays, holidays, and milestones in their lives.

Sue attended Hickory public schools and Charlotte public schools and graduated from Brenau Academy. She also attended Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill, where she began her lifelong love affair with Howard “Sonny” Dunaway. Sue was an associate at HY Dunaway Co. as well as a talented interior decorator for many Charlotte families.

Sue and Sonny were married for 72 loving years and were the center of gravity for their growing family of children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. Her family and friends admired her sharp intellect, cutting wit, and unending humility and selflessness. She was a giver of countless acts of love over her long and rewarding life and was known to share her philosophy that, although humans aren’t perfectible, by raising a good family, each generation can get a little better than the one before—and, in that way, can try to make the world a better place.

Sue is preceded in death by her mother, father, sister, and husband. She will be deeply missed by her 5 children; Yates Dunaway, III (Karen), Skip Dunaway (Gray), Doug Dunaway (Brenda), David Dunaway (Karen), and Suzy Riley (Bob); her 17 grandchildren; Yates Dunaway IV (Lauren), Keller Earnst (Daniel), Anne Poutier (Bryan), Ford Dunaway, Pearson Dunaway, Griffin Dunaway, Rivers Dunaway, Connor Dunaway, Jackson Dunaway, Logan Dunaway, McKay Dunaway, Salem Dunaway, Stephen Robison, Scot Robison, Erin Riley, Allyson Felker (Austin) and Kathryn Riley, and 10 great grandchildren; Caroline, Yates V and Mary Louise Dunaway, Kemp, Anne Cauley and Judson Earnst, Miller, Rush and Price Poutier, and Rhodes Felker.

Her family is forever grateful to Sue’s caregivers, Dee, Faye, Aster, Necey and Issatou whose love and kindness over the last four years is immeasurable. We would also like to thank Kari and Danielle from Hospice and Palliative Care for their comforting care.

A service to celebrate Sue’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. The service will also be livestreamed at Funerals & Memorial Services - Myers Park Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends in Oxford Hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Sue are requested to do so through memorial gifts to Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region 7845 Little Ave, Charlotte, NC 28226 - Memory & Movement Charlotte 411 Billingsley Rd, Ste 103, Charlotte, NC 28211 or the charity of choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.