Susan grew up in Newberry, South Carolina. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music from Newberry College. She went on to do her graduate studies at Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville, Tennessee. She studied organ with Janette Fishell and Wilma Jensen, and choral conducting with Sandra Willetts. After receiving a Masters Degree in Church Music, with an emphasis in organ, she has served churches in full-time music ministry in South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.