Sue Riddick Slaymaker

Minnesott Beach - Sue Riddick Slaymaker, aka Granny Sue, 81 of Minnesott Beach passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.

Mom was preceded in death by her late husband, George Stern Slaymaker and her parents, Richard Henry Riddick and Mary Lydia Riddick of Alliance, along with her daughter, Mary Evelyn Avery, and a grandson, Garrett Hayes Avery.  Mom is survived by her son, Mark Avery and wife, Carol Avery, of New Orleans along with her loving grandchildren, Harris, Travis, and Maddie Avery. Mom is also survived by her son, Mack Avery and wife, Susan Avery, of Oriental along with her loving granddaughter, Nicole Avery. Mom is also survived by one brother, Richard Henry Riddick, II and his wife, Sadie Murphy Riddick, of Merritt, NC and one sister, Lillie Riddick Reilly and her husband, Joe Reilly, of Morehead City, NC. Additionally, mom is survived by her four stepdaughters, Hollie Slaymaker Madamba and husband, Dave, of Linwood, NJ, Linda Slaymaker of Linwood, NJ, Sandy Jenkins of Old Fort, NC, and Valerie Ireland and husband, Ken, of Absecon, NJ. Mom is survived by 10 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Granny Sue was born in New Bern, NC. She graduated from college with a Social Workers degree from Troy State in Alabama. She was very active throughout her life.  She moved around with her parent’s and eventually in 1948 the Riddick family moved in with her grandfather, Malachi Watson Hooker, aka Daddy Mack in Alliance. As a teenager Granny showed calves at the State Fair in Raleigh. During her late teens she liked to go out to the “Minnesott Beach Pavilion” (that is no longer there).  On Wednesday nights at the Pavilion, they bowled and on Saturday nights you could find them there doing the “Carolina Shag.” Some weekends you would find her at the Dawson’s Creek sandbar (that is no longer there) where she did some crabbing, water skiing, boating and watched people jump off the bridge. Granny went to Pamlico County High School, where she became a standout All-State guard in basketball. After her success as a High School basketball player Granny was invited to play basketball with the All-American Red Heads professional basketball team. Her father remarked; “You are not going to Raleigh and you are not going to color your hair red. You are going to college.”  In her young and adult life Granny attended many Riddick Reunions held throughout NC where she would see her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Granny liked to cook, dance, bowl, play board and card games and put puzzles together with the grand kids.  As an avid golfer she enjoyed playing golf with all her friends at the Minnesott Beach Country Club and with friends in Myrtle Beach. Granny loved to sit on her back deck and wave to the golfers she knew as they walked by.  That back deck has told and heard a lot of stories. She enjoyed her Happy Hour wine with friends on that back deck. She enjoyed going to Cancun, traveling on cruise ships, going to the Blue Ridge Mountains, going to Mardi Gras and St. Patrick Day parades in New Orleans, going to New Jersey and going to the farm in Mississippi. Granny loved oyster roasts, pig pickings, and cookouts with relatives and friends.  Granny was a member of the Pamlico County Shrine Club Shrinettes. She was actively employed with Mariner Realty as a real estate agent up to the time of her death.

Mom enjoyed her life to the fullest.  She was the glue that held the family together, the Matriarch. She was full of energy and her laughing is something we will all miss.  She loved us all, but she really loved those grand kids! Over the past few years, she would always tell me “remember the good times and the memories.”  As if she was preparing me. I know she would tell all of us “move on, enjoy your life and have fun!”     Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God.”

Mom’s memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 20 ^th , at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Alliance with the Rev. Rex Horne officiating. Visitation prior to the service will begin at 10:00 a.m.

There will be a graveside service immediately after the memorial service to commence at the Greenleaf Memorial Park in Trent Woods. The family will receive relatives and friends immediately following the graveside service at a reception at the Pamlico County Shrine Club.

The family suggested making memorial contributions to the Sudan Shrine Temple in care of the Shrinettes, P.O. Box 12829, New Bern, NC 28561.