Susan May Sinclair

Susan May Sinclair went to her Heavenly home greeted by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was welcomed by her parents, Arthur and Bernice Savery, and her baby, Elin Suzanne (1975-1976) and will be seen by a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends and family members who have gone before.

Susan was raised by Godly parents in a Christian home located in Marion, Massachusetts. However, as a young adult she discovered that being raised as a Christian did not give her assurance of salvation.

Her Christian employer paid Susan’s way to a Word of Life Bible camp in Schroon Lake, NY where Susan committed her life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior because He sacrificed His life for her past and future sins.

Susan went on to attend Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn Univ.) and studied Greek with the Pastoral candidates. Susan was intelligent - making Dean’s list almost every semester. Her Greek professor asked Susan to tutor some of the struggling Greek students with their studies. Susan was respected by classmates and instructors as a sincere and focused woman of God.

On September 30, 1970 things changed as Susan was introduced to a young man who just arrived the month before. Susan overcame her shyness (with the help of an Angel who gently prodded her) and approached this young man in church that Sunday night. She tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Are you Jerry? Hi, I’m Sue Savery.” From that introduction grew a warm relationship that was completed at their wedding on February 13, 1971.

One of Susan’s favorite Scriptures was Ruth 1:16. Her love of Jerry and following him to Florida launched a 55 year covenant marriage ordained by God.

But Susan did have one stipulation before leaving for her new Florida home --- Jerry had to learn to love the RED SOX, CELTICS, PATRIOTS & BRUINS. These teams brought Susan much joy and some heartache until the Red Sox won their first of three World Series titles, six Super Bowl victories, and an amazing number of NBA Championships. Susan even got excited about hockey when the Bruins won an NHL Stanley Cup a decade ago. In return, they both enjoyed following the Jacksonville Jaguars for thirty years.

Through his local connections, Jerry introduced Susan to Dr. Jack Disnbeer of University Baptist Church and Christian School. Susan was immediately hired as the first full-time school secretary in 1971. Jerry also joined the church staff and together they built their lives and family around the community of University Baptist, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, greeting and serving foreign missionaries, serving in the church nursery and assisting the church leadership. Susan continued to learn and grow her faith from many gifted Bible teachers and concentrated while being a Godly wife and mother. Susan later made a career decision to work in the Public School system with special-needs children. Her 15 year career at Hogan Spring Glen Elementary as a para-professional teacher was rewarding and Susan often felt blessed every day in her teaching role. Susan retired from the school board and stayed home to care for her aging parents.

In 1986, the Sinclair family felt led by God to establish a new church relationship at Southpoint Baptist Church. The family continued their dedication of service at Southpoint Baptist just as they had been taught by a strong family Christian work ethic. Susan and her extended family supported Jerry’s career choices as they both tried to make a better life for their daughter and themselves going forward.

This was also a time when Susan’s talent for singing blossomed. About once a month, Susan would sing a solo in church based on a Gospel song made popular during the 1990s and beyond. Susan was invited to sing with the Southpoint Ladies Ensemble. That ladies group went to a recording studio and made an eight song CD. Susan loved Gospel music – especially songs about Heaven. Church choir was the place where Susan most enjoyed serving.

In 1992, Susan quickly endorsed Jerry joining the staff of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A ministry that saw many young people and coaches grow closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Again, Susan endorsed Jerry’s move to Sales Consultant @ Saturn of Regency. The Saturn managers were in awe of how much Susan could motivate Jerry to increase his production. Susan’s famous line was (with a smile), “Jerry, we already have enough cars in our driveway, you get back to the dealership and find a new customer…now!”

It goes without saying much that the Sinclair marriage was not perfect. Because of those valleys Jerry and Susan learned from mistakes made in the past and led Jerry to start a ministry (in 1996) called Faithful and True which was founded by the late Dr. Mark Laaser. It was a fruitful lay ministry that allowed Jerry to encourage men towards purity in marriage and living a God honoring lifestyle. Susan worked with the wives by living an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The ministry grew to where the administration of the ministry made it necessary for Jerry and Susan to surrender as full-time vocational missionaries. Jerry felt called to give up a secular career that provided much security and to go out on faith and raise financial support for a fledgling new type of ministry that had no track record of existence or success. The question was, “Would Susan agree?” Susan gave an enthusiastic YES and had felt God’s prompting voice - six months earlier. As Susan puts it, “I too was called but I had to get out of God’s way so Jerry could respond.” Susan waited for Jerry to get the message and they launched full-time in September 2008.

Susan and Jerry agreed to retire from the ministry with Faithful & True on August 1, 2025 and ceased corporate functions by not accepting future ministry donations. Meetings did continue at Jerry and Susan’s insistence.

In the winter of 2025, Susan had a persistent cough that would not go away. Five months later x-rays and scans revealed that Susan had pneumonia and on May 20th (her 80th birthday) Susan was diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer. Susan and the family agreed to Susan getting Chemo treatment over the summer with the last scheduled treatment ending in early September 2026. Susan was again diagnosed on September 13th with pneumonia and blood clots. After a 6 day stay in the hospital, the family agreed to allow Hospice to intercede with in-home care. Being home was important to Susan and she felt home was the right place to be in her last days.

Susan is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jerry Sinclair; her surviving daughter Jill (Russty) Hoke of Palm Coast; a brother, Sam (Laura) Savery and their 7 children of Deland, FL; Grandchildren Adam Hoke of Dunnellon, FL, Elin Rachel (TJ) Fowler of McComb, IL and Anna Hoke of Columbia, SC. Susan is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great grandchildren and other extended family throughout New England to the Pacific coast.

A celebration service will be held at Southpoint Baptist Church 3335 Tiger Hole Road on Saturday, October 17 @ 11am. The family will receive friends that morning one hour before the service. There will be no burial ceremony and the church will be providing lunch for the family immediately after the celebration.

The family requests no flowers or plants be provided, but if you wish to entertain a floral arrangement, place it on a grave of your closest loved one. Instead, the family would like to see donations made in Susan’s name to any of the ministries Jerry and Susan served with: Cairn University, University Church & Christian School, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Word of Life and Southpoint Baptist Church.