Suzanne with her husband Robert (Hoppy) Elliot

Suzanne Reynolds was born in Lexington, North Carolina in 1949. She was the second child born to Claude Morris and Eugenia McDonald Reynolds. Suzanne’s father, “Chuck,” was a Navy pilot during World War II and flew fighter planes off aircraft carriers in the south Pacific.

Suzanne grew up in Lexington, attending the public schools in Davidson County. Her father worked at Coble Dairy while Suzanne’s mother, Genie, spent most of her time as a homemaker. Suzanne has one older brother, Claude, a retired banker in Wilson, North Carolina.

After graduating from Lexington High School, Suzanne attended Meredith College. She majored in English and graduated summa cum laude in 1971. As she did in high school, Suzanne graduated first in her class, a fact her proud father enjoyed sharing with anyone who would listen.

Suzanne decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in English at UNC-Chapel Hill. She completed her course work, but in 1974, before completing her thesis, Suzanne decided to go to law school. Wake Forest Law School awarded her a full tuition scholarship, and she moved to Winston-Salem.

At Wake Forest, Suzanne met her future husband, Robert M. “Hoppy” Elliot. On the side, during her first and second years of law school, Suzanne made time to complete her thesis, and she received her Master’s Degree in 1976.By the end of those three years, Suzanne found that she loved both Hoppy and the law. She excelled in her law school classes, and before she left, the dean asked her to consider returning to the law school to teach after she gained experience in the practice of law. During her third year of law school, she served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. Suzanne graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University School of Law in May, 1977.

Suzanne and Hoppy's Children:
Michael, Caroline and Lillie Elliot

After graduating, Suzanne joined the law firm of Smith Moore Smith Schell & Hunter in Greensboro and litigated civil cases. In May, 1978, Hoppy and Suzanne married in an outdoor ceremony on the inland waterway in North Carolina. During their first years of marriage, Hoppy practiced law in Winston-Salem, commuting from the couple’s home in Greensboro.

Professional milestones – and children – filled the next decade. In 1980 while still in Greensboro, Hoppy and Suzanne had their first child, Michael. In 1981, Wake Forest offered Suzanne a position as an assistant professor at Wake Forest Law School, and the family moved to Winston-Salem. Their second child, Caroline, arrived in 1982. In 1986, Wake Forest promoted Suzanne to Associate Professor of Law. The third little redhead, Lillie, joined the family in 1987. In 1989, Wake Forest promoted Suzanne to Professor of Law.

Suzanne has successfully balanced a demanding career and a busy family life, although sometimes without much sleep. Hoppy and Suzanne’s children participated in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, soccer, basketball, swimming, band, track, and cross country. And while both Suzanne and Hoppy have been successful and committed to their careers, they rarely missed any of their children’s events. They value family time, and they have always made it a priority to take regular vacations with their children.

All three Reynolds-Elliot children attended public schools in Winston-Salem and graduated from R. J. Reynolds High School: Michael in 1998, Caroline in 2000, and Lillie in 2005. Michael attended Appalachian State University and UNC-Chapel Hill and is making plans for law school. Caroline graduated from Clemson University and is a third year student at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. Lillie is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in photojournalism (and vows never to have an interest in law school).

Suzanne has always been actively engaged in her community. She and all her family are active members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, which they have attended since moving to Winston-Salem. She is a long-time member of the choir at St. Anne’s, and she recently served as the senior warden of the church. Suzanne is on the Board of Directors for the Center for Urban Ministries, the Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina, and the Center for Community Safety.

As their nest has emptied, Suzanne and Hoppy and their black lab, Lilah, have spent more time in their cabin on the New River in Ashe County. They enjoy running and have completed two marathons together. And when things slow down, you can find Suzanne in her gardens.