Stephanie Sudduth Welch

Stephanie Sudduth Welch age 52 passed away Thursday July 18, 2024 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, MS. A memorial service will be held Thursday July 25, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Stephanie was born on May 10, 1972, in Columbus, MS to Gurley Sudduth and Rebecca Hale Sudduth. She grew up in Fernbank,AL and attended school at South Lamar. After school she trained as a model at Marguett Modeling Agency. She modeled for them doing shows in Texas, and New York City.
Stephanie had many jobs in her life, among the favorites was Cedar Hill Animal Sanctuary. She loved hearing the lions roar and taking care of all the animals at Cedar Hill. She worked tirelessly rescuing animals, dogs, cats, horses, and cows. Always trying to find good homes for them. If she couldn’t place them with a family, she usually kept them. Stephanie made many treasured friendships while working to save animals in need.
Her favorite job was being a mother to Carter and Ava. She loved playing with them, especially being outside and riding horses with them. She raised them to be kind to others and take care of each other. They were the light of her life. In August of 2019, Stephanie married the perfect man for her, Rick Welch. Rick loved animals as much as she did, and he loved Ava and Carter with all his heart. Stephanie touched so many lives during her short time on earth and showed everyone around her how to be kind and giving to people, and God’s creation around us.
She is preceded in death by her father Gurley Sudduth. She is survived by her husband, Rick Welch of Starkville, MS, her children, Ava Ramsey Cash, and Carter Elliot Cash, both of Starkville, MS. Her mother, Rebecca Hale Sudduth, and sister, Kelly Sudduth, both of Columbus, MS.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be all of the animals she has rescued. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to, Sweet Paws Rescue P.O. Box 32 Macon, MS 34341