Susan was born in Richmond, Virginia, the daughter of Helen and Straughan Richardson, and grew up in Second Baptist.

She is married to Jerry and they have three daughters.

Susan graduated from Douglas Freeman H. S. and has a B. S. in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a M.A. in Christian Education (with a specialty in child development) from Union Theological Seminary - Presbyterian School of Christian Education.

She has worked as a social worker with the City of Richmond and the Windsor Nursing Home, and as a Divisional Manager for Dun and Bradstreet Corporation for 10 years, prior to starting her family.

Susan came to C. L. C. as a teacher in 1988, and became director in 1993.