10/13/2025
Susanne Rebecca Sellers Obituary
Susanne Sellers
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, and friend,
August 23, 1941 – August 17, 2025
Susanne Sellers was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to William Jefferson Barker, a forester, and Pearl Quackenbush Barker, a teacher both by profession and by nature.
Susanne read voraciously, traveled broadly, shopped enthusiastically, and loved deeply—and somehow still found time to break glass ceilings and organize just about everything and everyone around her. She remained beautiful, curious, witty, and full of light until the very end.
She was a woman of many eras and talents. As one of the early female coders in a male-dominated field, she broke through barriers with brilliance and resolve, rising to become a bank executive long before it was common to see women in those positions. Her leadership wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal. She was a mentor to numerous women from all walks of life, and served on several boards ranging from Hospice to The Carolina Threads Project, always guided by a belief in individuals and community.
She started more book clubs than most people join in a lifetime—each one a constellation of loyal members who came for the reading but stayed for the laughter, connection, and sparkling conversation she inspired. Her longest one started in Charlotte 30-ish years ago and included many dinners and road trips. Enthusiastic husbands were allowed to participate once a year. She attended meetings until this past May, determined as ever to keep showing up for the things—and people—she loved.
Susanne was the kind of hostess who made everything look effortless. Her parties were warm and joyful, filled with laughter, comfort food, and the kind of friends who never left early. She had impeccable taste—her homes and closets overflowed with color, personality, and elegance—and she rarely let anyone walk away from a shopping trip without at least one new thing. “You really should buy that —you’ll love it!” she’d say. And you usually did.
She explored the world with enthusiasm, collecting stories, treasures, and admirers along the way. Destinations included —Asia, Central and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and innumerable locations across the US. In a few locations she arrived in a plane she flew herself. In many others she made a point of driving her grandchildren to school.
Above all, she was a loyal and loving force of nature—equal parts sunshine and champagne wrapped into one unforgettable woman. She touched thousands of lives with her kindness, energy, and warmth. She never met a stranger, and she left every room brighter than she found it. The downside of all this, of course, is the huge hole she left in our hearts.
Susanne is survived by her loving husband, Jerry Sellers; her devoted children, Katrina Maestri (Luca), Carson Sellers, and Tracy Prati (Ronald); her cherished sister, Sally Owen; and her adored grandchildren, Alexandra Prati (Jacob Freifeld), Victoria Prati (Alexander Friend), Ronald Prati, Keyl Maestri and Maxwell Maestri
If you're wondering how to keep her extraordinary energy in the world, please consider this: book the trip, wear the good earrings everyday, throw on something fabulous for no reason, buy that book AND the shoes, call someone you love to tell them what they mean to you, and toast her with a glass of champagne in the sunshine.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Hilliard Cemetery with Rev. Pat McWhorter officiating and Gray Funeral Home directing.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the following organizations that were close to Susanne’s heart:
UCSF Foundation
Support breakthroughs for Susanne’s condition
UCSF is A national leader in research and care for individuals with neurodegenerative conditions. Gifts go directly to support groundbreaking work on Susanne’s disease led by Dr. Marilu Gorno-Tempini.
Online: giving.ucsf.edu/fund/other
(Please note “In memory of Susanne Sellers – B9201” in the tribute section)
By Check: Payable to UCSF Foundation
Memo: In memory of Susanne Sellers – B9201
Mail to: UCSF Foundation, PO Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339
Chartwell Teaching Institute
Honor Susanne’s passion for literacy for all.
Gifts support improved literacy outcomes for students across California and beyond by providing evidence-based professional development for teachers —enriched by the latest neuroscience research.
Online: https://www.chartwell.org/teacher-training-institute
By Check: Memo: In memory of Susanne Sellers
Mail to: Chartwell Teaching Institute, 2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside, CA, 93944
EveryAge Foundation
Strengthen the community that embraced Susanne in her final years.
The EveryAge Foundation provides benevolent support for people in need and funding for programs that enrich the lives of the EveryAge family.
Online: https://everyage.org/foundation
By Check: Memo: In memory of Susanne Sellers
Mail to: 100 Leonard Avenue, Newton, NC 28658
