12/08/2025
Martha Sue “Susie” Marsh, age 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Russellville on Sunday, December 07, 2025, surrounded by her family she loved so much.
Susie was born in Alcoa, Tennessee, and was always proud to call it her hometown. She was a 1952 graduate of Alcoa High School, where she distinguished herself as the first chair saxophone for the Alcoa Tornadoes marching band and as the starting forward on the basketball team from seventh through twelfth grade. She later attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, majoring in English while working full-time for BellSouth—an early reflection of her determination and strong work ethic.
Susie went on to build an 18-year career with BellSouth, rising to a management position before choosing to step away to have and raise her family, a decision that showed her deep devotion to those she loved.
Susie and her beloved husband, Kenneth, were childhood friends and high school sweethearts, having spent many days on Wright’s Ferry Road in Alcoa, Tennessee, where Kenneth and his brothers often joined her for basketball games in her yard. After reconnecting later in life, they built a 40-year marriage on love, perseverance, and commitment. True to her marriage vows to love through better and worse, her love for him remained steadfast; within a day of her passing some of her last words were, “I miss Kenneth.”
She was also a longtime member of Crooked Oak Baptist Church and proudly contributed many of her cherished recipes to the Good Cookin’ from Crooked Oak Community cookbook. Known for her talents in the kitchen, she made unforgettable fried chicken legs, salmon patties, and chocolate pies with handmade crusts that became treasured family favorites.
Above all, Susie was a caring and loving mother and grandmother. Her son Kenny has often said she was his first best friend, a reflection of the deep bond they shared. She also passed on to him her love of sports, cooking, music, and singing—gifts that continued to shape his life. If they weren’t watching Alabama football games together, she would call him after big plays (good or bad) saying, “Did you see that!?” and they would celebrate or complain about how the game was going. Susie remained attentive, comforting, and devoted to her grandchildren as well, offering them warmth and support up until her final days.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter Nina Marsh Hacker (Sam Whitmore); son, Kenny Marsh (Lisa); step-children, Dennis Marsh (Audrey), Elizabeth Kay Proctor (Paul); grandchildren Hunter Faulkner (Amber), Emma Marsh Armstrong (Will), Suzanne “Sissy” Marsh; great-granddaughter, Kennedy Mae Armstrong; was anticipating her first great-grandson, Alex Armstrong; several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death her husband, Kenneth Marsh; stepchildren, Janice Duey, Clifford Edwin Marsh; parents, Ernest Clarence “Pat” & Nina Lou (Miller) Burns; and two brothers, Joe Burns and Allen Burns.
The visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Crooked Oak Baptist Church, 3000 Frankfort Road, Russellville, AL 35653. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Crooked Oak Baptist Church. The burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery at Crooked Oak.
The pallbearers will be Kenny Marsh, Hunter Faulkner, Will Armstrong, Mitchel Moore, Clint Moore, and Dennis Marsh. The honorary pallbearers will be Danny Marsh, Tommy Marsh, and Keith Seal.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff, especially Lauren Cox with North Alabama Hospice for your love and care. She was a godsend for Mom. We also want to thank everyone who has prayed for us, visited, brought food or thought of us during this time.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To give a private condolence, please visit our website, sprymemorialchapel.com.
