Elon University student account specialist Susan “Sue” Harris was the “resident essential oil expert” and masterchef of the Bursar’s office, her coworker Alessandra Gabriel said. Coworkers remember her as someone who was always willing to help out when someone needed a hand.
Harris died unexpectedly due to complications with pancreatic cancer Sunday, Nov. 10., according to an email sent by Elon President Connie Book to students and staff. Harris’ best friend Leesa Holley said she was diagnosed with cancer three months ago, having had a heart attack three weeks prior to her diagnosis. She died at 57-years-old.
Harris worked at Elon for 13 years in the Bursar's office. Previously, she worked at the University of North Carolina System as a student services assistant, as well as in managerial positions before that.
Gabriel worked with Harris in the Bursar office for 8 years. Gabriel said Harris was always looking for a way to help people or make them feel better. Her fondest memory with her was during the first week Gabriel started working at Elon.
“During my first week at Elon, I remember walking into the office after lunch and being excitedly approached by Sue who had a surprise to show me,” Gabriel wrote in an email to Elon News Network. “She quickly escorted me over to her desk and picked up a cardboard box. She lifted the flap and said, ‘Look, I rescued this poor baby squirrel who fell from the tree in front of our building. I'm going to take her home with me.’”
Gabriel remembers Harris bringing in food for the office in the mornings for the team to try. Holley also said that she celebrated Christmas Eve with Harris and her husband, and that she would cook homemade lasagna every year.
“Sue loved to experiment with cooking, and would often bring in her creations to share with us,” Gabriel said. “Sometimes it was a little too early to sample crab dip at 8:30 a.m., but we were always eager to try what she had made.”
Essential oils helped Harris “remedy” her friends and their pets as she “mixed up some concoctions.”
“I called her the ‘witch doctor,’” Holley said. “My dog had kennel cough. I was going to take her to the vet on Monday, and Susan mixed me up something for the dog. By Monday, the kennel cough was gone.”
Both funny and sad memories flood Holley’s mind of her 20-year-old friendship with Harris. She remembers leaving her scarf one day at Harris’s home, then seeing that it had been put up for auction by her. However, she said her generosity stood out most to her.
“She was just really a simple, kind of person,” Holley said. “She was very generous to other people. She would actually give somebody literally the shirt off her back if she knew that they needed it.”
When Holley opened a salon and needed the money to pay off her first month’s rent, Harris lent her the money and never asked for it back. After Holley had given the money back to her, Harris still continued to help support her best friend’s business afterwards out of her own willingness.
Being the giving captain for the Faculty and Staff Giving Celebration for four years, Harris was the top donor from the bursar’s office. The Faculty and Staff Giving Celebration supports student scholarships, Elon Experiences, academic departments and schools, and more. Harris was recognized for 10 years of service in 2021.
Harris’ husband Robert Harris, whom she was married to for 21 years, passed away June 3, 2023. Holley said the couple were animal lovers who frequently took in animals, including volunteering with the Burlington Animal Shelter. They had three dogs and two cats.
Susan is survived by her mother, sister and two children.
A Gathering of Friends will be held in the Numen Lumen Pavilion Sacred Space on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. A cremation is planned for the future, according to Holley.
A number of counseling and support services are available for students and staff, like Counseling Services, TimelyCare, Student Care and Outreach and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life located in Numen Lumen Pavilion. As well, faculty and staff may utilize Elon Work-Life Resources for additional support.