Susan G. White

Susan Gayle White, born June 5, 1958 in Enid Oklahoma, passed away unexpectedly on October 31, 2021. Susan was a wise and respected therapist in the Syracuse community for 35 years. She proudly called herself a feminist and fought passionately for many social justice causes. She had a great love and wonder of four-leggeds.

            Susan grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, graduating from Putnam City High School in 1976. She attended Phillips University in Enid, OK earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1981. Moving then to New York, Susan earned a Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Syracuse University in 1984. 

            Susan worked many years providing therapy and supervision at Elmcrest Children’s Center.  She later establishing her own private practice, Dragonfly Counseling and Consultation. She continued to actively support and work with many community agencies such as: Vera House, SAGE Upstate, Onondaga Case Management, and The Women’s Information Center, to name a few. More recently, Susan was focusing on integrating healing energy techniques into her work with clients, particularly the Emotion Freedom Technique (EFT). She would hold “tapping circles” in her office at the Woman’s Information Center to promote emotional healing in a group setting and practiced tapping with individuals, couples, and families in their therapy sessions. She was passionate about essential oils.

            Susan was active in pursuing social justice causes and would often go to demonstrations for the issues she felt strongly about. She co-facilitated group race dialogues, and monthly “Peaceful Warriors for Social Justice” gatherings for a number of years. She helped to plan and lead many workshops and events including the “Women’s Symposium on Change,” “What A Girl Needs to Know,” and others, covering topics of race, healthy relationships and energy healing.

            Susan is predeceased by her parents: Max and Doris Jean White. She is survived by her partner Roslyn Rasberry, 5 feline furbabies, her step-mother, Jan White of Oklahoma City, step-brother Todd Ballard, his wife Becky and their 3 children (Megan, Zach and Carson) of St. Louis, M.O., and Lee Ballard (step-brother), his wife Janet and an extended family of many, many friends and colleagues.

                We honor Susan for a life well-lived as a generous caretaker, loyal friend and healer, and as a delightful human who often asked: “How can I serve?” She answered the call time and time again with action and love. She is, and will be, deeply missed.

                A memorial “Celebration of Life” will be held next spring at the Woman’s Information Center. If you would like more information about Susan’s celebration of life, send email inquiries to: 
swhitecelebratelife@gmail.com

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