Sue was born and raised in Boiling Springs, Barnwell County, South Carolina. The daughter of Laurie Cargille Fowke and Mary Mercer Fowke, “Annie Sue” was the second oldest of seven sisters and two brothers. They grew up in the house their father built and attended school at the nearby, one room schoolhouse. Each school day began with the siblings carrying buckets down to the springs behind the schoolhouse to fetch the daily provision of water.
In 1941, Sue graduated from Montreat College near Black Mountain, North Carolina. She met her first husband, Birmingham native Jim Selman on a double date in Atlanta. They were married in 1943 and settled in Birmingham. Together they raised four sons who all became active members of South Highland Presbyterian Church where Jim served as an elder and Sue as a church officer.
Sue loved to garden. She had a keen eye for landscaping and was legendary for her skills at flower arranging. With Jim Selman, Sue became an accomplished saltwater angler, fishing the flats of the Florida Keys for tarpon, bonefish and permit. With second husband Reg Carter, Sue mastered the patient art of hunting wild turkeys in the pristine hardwood forests and backwaters of Myrtlewood, Alabama. Sue and her third husband, Jim White loved traveling together in the short, precious time they shared.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother Ruth Gillespie Fowke, husbands James Alexander Selman, Wickham Reginald Carter, James Herbert White, all of Birmingham, Alabama. She was also preceded in death by sisters Josephine (Paul) Harper, Helen (Jerome) Barnett, Betty (William) Bell, Caroline (Layton) Richardson, Charlotte Fowke, brother Havener (Nan) Fowke and son William (Jan) Selman.
Sue is survived by brother James (Margaret) Fowke and sister Phylis (Richard) Laughridge, sons Jim (Ginger) Selman, Robert (Malin) Selman, Richard (Florence) Selman, grandchildren James (Lisa) Selman, Devlin (Jeff) Golay, Kim Joselove, Caitlin (Nick) Howard, Hanna Selman, Matthew Jacoby, Dylan Jacoby and six great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren.
Sue is also survived by her dear friend, Frank “Bud” Van Deman. For the last ten years, Sue and Bud kept each other young at heart. Together with grace and humor, they artfully navigated the challenges and adventures of becoming nonagenarians.
Sue’s family expresses thanks to all the staff at Kirkwood By the River for the love and care they provided Sue for over twenty years. They spoke of her smile and laughter, her enthusiasm to participate in musical activities, exercise classes and attend chapel services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Highland Presbyterian Church and Kirkwood by the River.
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