Martha Sue Horton

Martha Sue (Gaines) Horton, also known as ‘Sue-Sue’, was born on May 20, 1946, in Hobbs, New Mexico, to Tinnie Lee Woods and Redd Gaines. Martha Sue was the first born and the oldest of cousins. Her mother and father as well as her two brothers Lester Lee and Roy Lee preceded her in death.

After graduating from high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico she moved with her family to Long Beach, CA. Shortly after her arrival she met and fell in love with Billy Ray Horton (d. February 10, 2025). They were united in Holy Matrimony on February 15, 1969, and she was his dedicated wife and partner for all of their 57 years.

Martha Sue was dedicated to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While living in Long Beach, CA she and Billy worshipped and fellowshipped at Living Word Missionary Baptist Church. Upon their arrival to Cedar Hills, TX they began to worship and fellowship at Cedar Heights Baptist Church and were faithful members until their respective deaths.

Sue-Sue was known for many things but most of all she was a reading aficionado. She would spend long hours at her local library, and had acquired her own personal library filled with books that speak to the soul. She was not only an excellent book critic, but free with recommendations of books, her sharing of books and her gifting of books too!

If you were inclined to stop over for a visit you most likely would find Sue sitting in her favorite chair indulged in a book or enjoying one of her other past times, doing crossword puzzles. You would find not only the ‘kit’ (pencils, erasers, dictionary, etc.) by her side but Billy Ray sitting right next to her in his favorite chair as well!

Martha Sue loved her family and friends. Whenever we had family gathering at holidays or and just because. We knew you better get yourself a partner because it was going down with some “Bid Wiz”. And Billy and Sue were always partners because they thought they had secret codes that nobody else could decipher. Wrong! We knew when she patted her heart what suit she was coming in! The smell of the coffee brewing and her drinking it black and strong because that’s how she liked her man (Billy Ray)! Black and Strong! She was famous for her Ambrosia salad, her girlish giggle, her love of gossip, and her love of children.

As we bid farewell, we do so not with finality but with reverence and gratitude for a live well lived. Martha Sue transitioned on Sunday August 10, 2025, to be with the Lord and the Love of her Life. She leaves to cherish her memory her “Uncle Bobby Joe Younger of Long Beach, CA, two sisters-in-laws, Dorothy Sampson of Bellflower, CA, Juanita Horton of Compton, CA, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbors and the Cedar Heights Church family.

A visitation for Martha will be held Monday, August 25, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Laurel Land Funeral Home, 6300 South R.L., Dallas, TX 75232. A funeral will occur Tuesday, August 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Cedar Heights Baptist Church, 201 Belt Line Rd, Cedar Hill, TX 75104. A committal will occur Tuesday, August 26, 2025 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.