Obituary

Sue Sandifer Williams

August 30, 1940 - July 15, 2025

Sue Sandifer Williams went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. She was born in Bogalusa, LA on August 30, 1940, to her parents, Lamar and Lois Seal Sandifer. Eight years later, she made a public profession of faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was baptized at Superior Ave. Baptist Church. In 1957, she married Don G. Williams, Sr. and subsequently moved her membership to Lee’s Creek Baptist Church serving in several capacities including church organist, pianist and Sunday school teacher.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology at Southeastern Louisiana University, graduating Suma Cum Laude and was the recipient of the President’s Medal for Academic Excellence. While attending SLU, she was a member of SLU’s honor society, the Thirteen Club and subsequently was inducted into the nation’s most prestigious honor society, Phi Beta Kappa whose exclusive membership includes the top 10% academically of all university students nationwide. In 1975, she received her master’s degree in Administration and Supervision.

During three decades as an educator, she was an upper elementary teacher and also served two years teaching English, Honors English and Creative Writing at the junior high level. While teaching at Bogalusa Junior High School, she was voted Teacher of the Year. From 1989-1994, while holding the position of Testing and Textbook Coordinator for the Bogalusa City Schools, she served as a grant writer, consultant/instructor for veteran teachers, and conducted in-service-training for new teachers. She resigned from that position in 1994 to return to the classroom because she sorely missed interaction with the students. She truly loved teaching and often referred to her vocation as a “ministry”.

In 1996, she was appointed principal at Terrace Accelerated Elementary. During her tenure as principle, she was the guest speaker at the Louisiana State Superintendent’s Conference, presenting and extolling the benefits of an accelerated school program. Two years later she transferred to Columbia Street Magnet School where she served a year as principle before her retirement in 2001. After her retirement from public schools, she taught upper elementary grades at Bogalusa Christian Academy for three years, which she often smiled and referred to as “school heaven”.

She enjoyed several hobbies including collecting biographies/autobiographies of every President of the United States for her personal library. In 1992, she traveled to Israel and Belgium and in 2005, she toured Italy as an alto in Pro Musica, a choir under the direction of Dr. Ric Watkins. A freelance writer, her articles and poetry were published in Mature Living, Home Life and Country Living magazines. Although considered a “bookworm” she enjoyed outdoor sports, playing tennis and golf for many years. In 2014, she and her husband moved to Lafayette, LA where she studied oil painting and took pleasure in creating paintings for her children and grandchildren. She and her husband returned to Bogalusa in 2017.

She is survived by her two sons, Don (Blaine) Williams of Lafayette, LA and Dr. H. Brad Williams of Bogalusa, LA; six grandchildren, Caitlyn Williams Ledet, Seth Williams, and Garrett Williams, all of Lafayette, LA; Hannah Williams-Lafy and Zachary Williams of Virginia; Brynna Williams of Bogalusa, LA; and 5 great-granddaughters. She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother Benjamin Lamar “Marty” Sandifer.  

Funeral services will be held for Don and Sue Williams as we honor their life and legacy, on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church in Bogalusa, LA. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm with the funeral services beginning at 2:00 pm. Burial will immediately follow at the gravesite at Lee’s Creek Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in honor of Don and Sue Williams’ memory to Lee’s Creek Baptist Church.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home & Crematory in Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements.