Born in 1932 in Old Hickory, Tennessee, Sue was the daughter of Charles N. and Lucille Roberts Worley, and the sister of James C. Worley, all of whom predeceased her. She moved to Chattanooga as a teenager when her father was transferred to the Dupont de Nemours plant that opened in Chattanooga in the 1940s. Everyone in her immediate family, including Sue, was employed for some period of time by Dupont.
In 1955 Sue married Jack W. Martin, who had returned to Chattanooga after a stint in the United States Marine Corps. They were married for 52 years until Jack’s death in 2007 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Prior to his illness, Jack had been Vice-President of Sales at Modern Maid, Inc., in Chattanooga, where he had developed motivational travel programs for customers that allowed Sue and Jack to travel extensively to destinations around the world.
Sue is survived by her son Scott W. Martin and his wife Christiane Sheid, of La Jolla, California, and her daughter Kerri Martin Bartlett and her husband Richard A. Bartlett, of New York, New York, as well as by four grandchildren, Julianne Martin, Hilary Bartlett, William Bartlett and Mary Claire Bartlett, and by identical twin great-grandsons.
Throughout her long life, Sue devoted herself completely to her family, loyally nurturing her aging parents for as long as they lived, steadfastly caring for Jack as his disease advanced, and in countless ways demonstrating extraordinary support and affection for her children and grandchildren. A woman of her generation, she urged her children to pursue educational and professional opportunities that she herself never had –--and rejoiced in her family’s accomplishments as if they were her own.
Until declining health impeded her, Sue was an active member of the Lake Hills Church of Christ, where she volunteered in the church’s hospital meals program and ran its used clothing closet. She lived the last years of her life at Everlan of Hixson, a senior living community, and the family wishes to thank the staff and residents of Everlan for making those years such happy ones. The family also wishes to thank Sue’s team of caregivers over the last six months, as well as the staff at CHI Memorial for their kindness and care.
Graveside services will be private, but the family will receive visitors on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 1:00pm until 2:30pm at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sue’s memory to a charitable organization that is meaningful to you.
Please visit www.chattanooganorthchapel.com to share your memories.
