CHERISH THE CHILD … Family and Co-workers stand to accept the Cherish The Child Award for Susie Osburn. Pictured are: Annie Beattie, Ammy Resendez, Amanda Stockford, Drew Frank, husband Kim Osburn, Ohio Means Jobs Sunshine Faunce, JFS Staff Judith Preston and Katie Baltosser.
By: Jacob Kessler
Every year the Children Protective Services at The Williams County Department of Job and Family Services presents an individual with the Cherish The Child Award.
The award is given to recognize those individuals that go above and beyond for the children of Williams County. Due to COVID restrictions last year, the award ceremony was unable to proceed, however this year, the award ceremony was held.
The recipient for the award is Susie Osburn, who at the time of her nomination, was fighting lung cancer.
Susie began her fight with cancer in January of 2020 but unfortunately lost that battle on October 19th, 2020. On Wednesday, August 11th, her husband Kim Osburn and her children went to the Williams County Community Office Building to receive the plaque that was intended for her.
Susie was a Self-Sufficiency Specialist at the Ohio Means Jobs Youth Program. Despite her cancer, she continued to come to work to help young adults.
“She came to work each day with such faith, positivity, and determination that amazed everyone around her. She touched many lives through her faith and walk with Christ,” said Sunshine Faunce who is the Workforce Development Coordinator at the Williams County Ohio Means Jobs.
Through it all Susie still attended court with teens, went to their homes to speak with them, took them to Northwest State for Discover days and much more. All the work she did for those kids helped them to make better choices and finish school. She also started to bring the Youth Program to the Juvenile Detention Center before covid-19 put a halt to it.
Susie is survived by her Husband, 6 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 fur babies. She was a member of the Black Sheep Harley-Davidsons For Christ group and was known as “Honky Tonk”.
Everyone that worked with Susie loved her as did the children she helped. “Susie is a Harley driven, faith preaching, cancer fighting, woman of god who loves working with our community’s youth.
This wonderful, beautiful lady not only gives her all to the youth of Williams County but to any person or persons who just need that helping hand,” said Sunshine.
Susie will be missed by her family, co-workers, and those that she helped.
Jacob can be reached at jacob@thevillagereporter.com
SUSIE OSBURN … Susie pictured with her husband Kim Osburn.
