Elaine Vaughan Suggs

Elaine Vaughan Suggs, 71, of Rome, Georgia, passed away on July 25, 2024, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on January 25, 1953, in Gwinnett County to Howard and Willie Vaughan.

Life Events and Accomplishments: Elaine graduated from Forsyth High School. During high school, she worked at WMLB radio station in Cumming, GA, until she graduated in 1971. She went on to study journalism at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA. She was also known for her love of writing, working in nursing homes to care for the elderly, and selling Tupperware and Mary Kay. 

After Elaine had relocated with her family of four from Buford, Ga, to the Marietta, Ga, area, she became a full-time stay-at-home Mother & Wife. By this time, she weighed over 300 lbs. and was informed that, due to the excessive weight gain and eventual single status following a divorce, no one would be there to care for her daughter if she passed away. This statement from a medical advisor inspired her to take on a determined crusade to lose more than 200 pounds. She quickly filled her days with walks, inviting opportunities to go with her daughter or solo to enjoy a journey to losing excess weight that had become an immense challenge for her well-being.

In 2002, Elaine combined her efforts to lose weight and autobiographical writing skills to share her accomplishments and inspire others. Prevention magazine held a writing contest that year on efforts of personal health through exercise and her paper was chosen as 1st Place Winner.

The accompanying photograph is from the cover art of one of her proudest accomplishments in her personal life. Elaine proceeded to see her daughter through high school as a single mother and retired from working for the Wal-Mart corporation.

Family: Elaine is survived by her son Damien Suggs and his wife Claudia and their two children Sofia and Etienne Suggs in Marietta, GA, her daughter Jessica Broesche and her husband Franklin, as well as her sisters Retha Wade of Dahlonega, GA, and Renda Whidby of Buford, GA. Her sisters, Rebecca Smith, Reba Payne, and Rita Streetman preceded her in death.

Memorial Service: A private memorial service for the immediate family will be held in North Georgia.

Closing: Elaine will always be known as having the self-proclaimed qualify of “the gift of gab” when she needed it as all radio personalities are well aware of. Salmon Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.