Rev. Dr. Sue Cardwell Memorial Service

Streaming link for Rev. Dr. Cardwell's service: HERE

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to either of these organizations: 

Sue Cardwell Scholarship Fund

Christian Theological Seminary 

Office of Seminary Advancement

1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208-3372

Sue and Walter Cardwell Scholarship - Education Congo 

2216 Elgin Road Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Give online at: educationcongo.org.

Sue Webb Cardwell, 104, passed away on December 17th, 2022, in Indianapolis.

She was born on February 3, 1918, in Gulfport, MS. She married the love of her life, Walter Cardwell, on May 15th, 1938, and they enjoyed 69 years together until he passed away in 2007. She is also predeceased by her twin sister Mary Perlman and her brother Elbert Webb. She is survived by her children W. Douglas, Janet Nelson-Arazi (Soli), Mary-Ann Schmutte (Jim), David (Mary Louise), Abe (Randi), 17 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, her brother, Watts Webb, her sister, Zaidee Stokes, and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Cardwell served for 12 years with her husband, Walter, as a Disciples of Christ missionary in Bolenge, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Belgian Congo), where she served as Director of the girls’ school, and taught math and French in the secondary school as well as the seminary.

They then settled in Indianapolis, where Dr. Cardwell furthered her studies, adding to her Bachelor of Arts with distinction (William Carey College, Hattiesburg, MS, 1937), a series of other degrees: Master of Science (1962) and Education Specialist (1965) from Butler University, Master of Sacred Theology from the Christian Theological Seminary (1970), and then a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology in 1978 from Indiana University with specialization In Measurement and Evaluation.  While studying, she also worked as a psychologist, Lecturer, Research Associate, Associate Director, then Director of the CTS Pastoral Counseling Service. She later served as interim director of the Buchanan Center counseling service at Methodist Hospital, retiring at the age of 83.

Dr. Cardwell was the first woman to be named Vice-President and then President (1984-1988) of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. CTS honored her in 2013 as the first female faculty member of a Disciples of Christ seminary with a scholarship established in her name, and in 2018 awarded her an honorary degree in Humane Letters. In 2022, she received the first Presidential Award of Excellence as an alumnus of the Seminary.

After moving to Robin Run Village in 2000, Sue became heavily involved in numerous committees and groups, including member and Secretary of the Resident Council and a leader of the Caregivers’ Support Group for many years. She had been a member of Downey Avenue Christian Church, Indianapolis, since 1958. Sue was laid to rest with her beloved Walter at Washington Park East, Indianapolis.