Susie C. (Cochran) Hummingbird (1940 - 2021)

Born 26 Jun 1940 in Tahlequah, Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Johnnie Hummingbird — married 14 Mar 1958 in Oklahoma, United States

Died 20 Jul 2021 at age 81 in Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

Susie was Cherokee.

Susie Cochran was born on June 26, 1940 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the daughter of Joe B. Cochran and Emma Killer. Susie's parents separated before 1950 and she appears with her mother and siblings on the 1950 census living in Bunch, Oklahoma. ^[1]

Susie married Johnnie Hummingbird in 1958. They were the parents of Johnnie, Cherry, Susan, Mary, Joseph, and Sean. ^[2]

She was a signer of the Cherokee Speaker Roll, a record of the names of the first-language speakers of Cherokee who still spoke Cherokee fluently.

Johnnie died in 2011 and Susie died in 2021. They are buried at the Blackwell Cemetery, Adair County, Oklahoma. ^[3]

Obituary

Susie C. Hummingbird was born June 26, 1940 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to Joe B. Cochran and Emma (Killer) Cochran. She went home to be with the Lord on July 20, 2021 while surrounded by loved ones at the age of 81 years and 24 days.

Susie was a lifelong resident of the Stilwell area. She was married to Johnnie Hummingbird on March 14, 1958. She earned a Master's Degree in elementary education and began teaching at Peavine School where she retired after many years of service. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church where she served as Secretary, Deaconess and Women's Sunday School teacher.

Susie loved quilting and wanted each of her grandchildren to have a quilt made from "Grandma". Her favorite time of day was around midnight. She would faithfully get up each night to enjoy her usual glass of orange juice and one slice of bread peanut butter sandwich and would sit down to read her Bible and pray. She loved the Lord and loved spending quiet time with Him.

She and her dog, Bubba, were constant companions. When the pandemic forced church services outdoors, Bubba attended church along with his "Grandma" every chance he could.

Susie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years, Johnnie Hummingbird, son Johnny Hummingbird Jr, grandson Mitchell Thompson Jr, brothers Mack Cochran, Henry Cochran and Joshua Cochran and sister Lucille Hummingbird.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6FSK-14NN : Tue Jul 11 06:06:21 UTC 2023), Entry for Susie Cochran and Henry Cochran, 10 April 1950.
2. ↑ obituary for Susie Hummingbird, Hart Funeral Home, july 20, 2021
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229792679/susie-c-hummingbird: accessed 19 July 2023), memorial page for Susie C Cochran Hummingbird (26 Jun 1940–20 Jun 2021), Find a Grave Memorial ID 229792679, citing Blackwood Cemetery, Stilwell, Adair County, Oklahoma, USA; Maintained by R Burnett (contributor 47445819).

• Cherokee Nation Speaker tribute video
• Hart Funeral Home obituary