Sue Steele Aldridge Perry died peacefully on June 17, 2021, after a period of declining health. Sue was the middle child of the late Rouse and Hobart Steele. Sue grew up in Burlington, North Carolina with her parents, her Aunt Sadie, her sister, Nancy Penick, and her brother, Hobie Steele.
Her treasured children are William Sidney Aldridge, David Steele Aldridge, and Elizabeth Aldridge Williams. Here grandchildren are Watt Williams and Timmons Williams; Radford Aldridge, John Aldridge, and Creighton Aldridge; Meg Aldridge and William Aldridge. Other beloved family members are Dr. Randall Williams, husband of Elizabeth; Dana Aldridge, wife of David; Diane Aldridge, wife of Sid; and Lydia Aldridge.
She is predeceased by her first husband, William H. Aldridge Jr.(Bill), and her husband from a later marriage, Joel Perry, and her grandson, Steele Williams.
Sue was affectionally called Miss Sue as a teacher for 20 years at White Memorial Pre-School.
Bill and Sue were childhood sweethearts and married in 1951. They were devoted to each other until Bill’s death in 1996. Their marriage was blessed with faithfulness and abiding love.
Joel Perry and Sue were married in 1998 and they shared his love of airplanes and devoted companionship until his death in 2017.
Sue loved her church, Hayes Barton United Methodist, where she served as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher, member of the Chapel and Chancel choir, Altar Guild, and the originator of the first Christmas pageant which was a church tradition for more than 20 years. She remarked, “I’ll do anything for my church as long as I don’t have to cook.”
In the community Sue participated in the Junior League of Raleigh and the Junior League Chorus, and she volunteered at Hilltop Home and Reading Program for the Blind.
A service of celebration for Sue will be held on Monday, June 21st at 2:00 pm at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd. Raleigh, NC, followed by a visitation reception in the Fellowship Hall. A private interment will take place prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608; Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Television Ministry, 1800 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608; or Ridge Road Baptist Church, 2011 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street Raleigh, NC 27605.
