Sue Payne Roberts

at Ridgewood Nursing Home.

Graveside service will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at Curry Cemetery, with Kilgore-Green Funeral Home directing. Bro. John Gates will officiate.

She had been a resident at Ridgewood Nursing Home since September 2018, where she received excellent care by dedicated employees and several were her former students.

She was preceded by her son, Brent Roberts; granddaughter, Elizabeth Elaine Roberts; parents, Emmett and Lurline Sides Payne; sister, Jean Payne Love and her long time best friends; Jan Powell Egner and Eleanor Goad Cook.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Bruce Roberts; daughter, Pamela Roberts; daughter-in-law, Laura Creel Roberts Burt (Lee) of Mathews of Montgomery County; sister, Kathryn Payne Chandler of Cullman; brother-in-law, Tommy Roberts of Curry/Blooming Grove Area and a host of many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She joined Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in 1948, the pastor was Dewel Wood, and she enjoyed singing and Vacation Bible Schools plus summer revivals there in her youth and teen years.

At Curry High School Sue was active in Beta and Science Clubs, was Homecoming Representative and a favorite in the class of 1955. She acquired an excellent commercial and pre college education at Curry High School.

She had no brothers so her parents taught her the American work ethic as she grew up on the farm.

Sue was Energetic, enthusiastic and popular. She was selected “Gem of the Hills” at Jacksonville State in 1956. She married the love her life suitor Bruce Roberts in 1957. She put college on hold and worked as a stenographer and executive secretary for the next ten years at Lone Star Cement Corporation and Southern Services “Alabama Power” in Birmingham. After they moved to Huntsville in 1967, she continued the same type work at Teledyne Brown Engineering. She took Minimum time off work to give birth to Pam and Brent in the 60’s.

Sue began her teaching career in 1971 at Lee High School in Huntsville. She had prepared well in high school, with the business world experience and completed course work at seven different Alabama Colleges and Universities.

Uniquely qualified Sue was selected business education teacher at Curry High School in 1976. She was a model teacher, the consummate professional, both admired and respected by her students. Graduates of Curry High School from 1977-2001 attest to their appreciation for her excellent instruction preparing them for work, her guidance and encouragement.

During her 40-year plus work history, Sue was selected for every job or position she applied. Her work attendance and reputation preceded her and she had over a year of accumulated sick leave at retirement.

Sue loved yard work, trees, flowers, birds, pets, shopping, walking on the beach, teaching students but most of all Sunday school and church. She was a member and attended church over the years near her residence at Raleigh Ave Baptist and Dawson Memorial in Homewood, First Baptist Leesville Louisiana, Southside Baptist Tuscaloosa, First Baptist Huntsville, First Baptist Jasper, Blooming Grove Baptist and finally back home to Mt. Vernon.

The family extends thanks to Comfort Care Hospice, Notably Jamie Wilson and loyal visitors while at Ridgewood including Bro. John Gates, Pat Judge, Bill and Mary Cain and their granddaughter Mary Corinne Key, Bill and Kathi Cornett, the late Ron Davis and wife Jan, J.W. and Ann Frye, J.M. and Marie Ivey, Jim and Joan Sanders, Danny and Annette Carter, Phyllis Wilson, Wayne and Glenda Wilson, Betty S. and Lamar Chambless, Marsha Payne Russell, Tommy Roberts, the late Dorothy Atkins and others. Special thanks to Pat Judge and Mary Cain for Sue’s birthday party at Ridgewood in August 2019. Sue will be sorely missed but not forgotten.

Pallbearers will be former classmates J.W. Frye, Jimmy Ray Estes and Billy Short. Former students Dr. Robin Roberts, Eric Woodley and Steve Rowe.