The birth certificate lists her name as Ruth Ella Curtis but those who loved her most knew her as Sue. Ora Mae, the second youngest of the five born to Alva and Joseph in the Redland community, nicknamed her baby sister "Suzy Q" soon after she was born on July 4, 1946. As the years passed, the family shortened it to Sue. She came from a family where nicknames were the norm. Older brothers Bobby Joe and Jimmy were better known as "Butch" and "Preacher" while the grandkids abbreviated her mother's title from "Big Mama" to "Biggie" then finally "Big" long before that Brooklyn rapper came along. Gary Choice Sr., the oldest nephew, aka "Squirty", noticed from an early age that he rarely saw Aunt Sue without his mom Ora Mae or his Aunt Jean. Later in life, he coined the ultimate nickname for the trio: the Butt Sisters, a moniker that had nothing to do with their Butts family lineage but one that came from a popular R&B song from the 1970s.

The Love of Her Life

Her life was forever changed one summer day in 1963 when she met a boy named Floyd Ross while hanging out with friends at Peach Park. Floyd had a girlfriend at the time but ol' girl was quickly kicked to the curb in favor of Sue, who gave him the OK to walk her home mere hours after they met. When Alva realized the kids were getting serious, she encouraged Jimmy, Sue's big brother/bodyguard to try and run "that Floyd boy" off. Her main squeeze wasn't going anywhere. He had found his Day 1. The courtship was short. They married one year later at North Star Missionary Baptist Church under the auspices of the Rev. R.L. Lemons, who eventually became their pastor. They would have tied the knot sooner but Alva wanted her baby girl to graduate from Emmett J. School High School before taking on a husband. Ruth and Floyd. Sue and Outlaw. They made magic for 61 years as loving life partners, providing the other constant support through thick and thin. Their union produced LaGayle, their pride and joy, in 1965. Twenty years later, Cami joined the household. With God leading every step, they created a home filled with warmth, laughter and love. At their 50th wedding anniversary party in 2014, the Rosses received a certificate of congratulations from a fellow power couple.  "An enduring marriage like yours is truly golden," it read. "Your support for each other through the joys and challenges of your half century together is an inspiration to all of us. We send our best wishes to you on this wonderful occasion." Sincerely, — President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

A Tireless Worker in Business and Church

Sue worked 37 years as the office manager for Dr. Martin Edwards in his Bow St. location, dutifully answering phones and sitting with patients while Doc tended to others. She also did medical records, insurance and billing. Dr. Edwards even taught her how to take a patient's vitals. She was a medical assistant long before the term was invented. Many years passed before the kids in our family realized she wasn't a nurse. She sure looked the part in the white dress with the snazzy white hat and those cushiony white shoes. She was certainly the family medical authority because she always came up with the perfect remedy when one of us took sick. A few years after Dr. Edwards retired, she worked in Dr. Angela Smith's office and later for Community Funeral Home as an assistant. The Curtis kids were a close knit group. They all married and settled in North Tyler homes that were all within a five-minute drive of one another. They also raised their children more as siblings than first cousins. Biggie's house on Lollar St. was the central meeting place where the grandkids would stay until their folks got off work. And if one of them got in enough trouble that required some old-school discipline from a switch pulled from the pecan tree in the front of the house or the 'piss ellum' — it was an elm tree but that's how they said it —  in the back, it would be three whuppings instead of one, courtesy of the Butt Sisters. Sometimes it would be four if Biggie saw fit. It was truly a village back then. Sue wore many hats as a wife to the man she affectionately called Floyd Wayne, mother to LaGayle and 'MeMe'/Granny to Cami. Bryson and DeShun later joined the flock as surrogate great grandsons. Although she birthed one child and had one grandchild, Sue accumulated a multitude of sons, daughters and grands, including Valera Sanders — who was in the delivery room with LaGayle for Cami's arrival — to her favorite musicians Gary Blevins and Tony Simpson, her diligent caregiver Martina Davis, LaGayle's adopted brother Rev. Fred Berry and the "Dallas crew".  Over the years, she also spoiled rotten fur babies King, Scottie and Smoochies — now in rainbow heaven — and current grand-dogs Prince and Ekho. And she had opinions on top of opinions. Family, friends and church members will agree you never had to wonder what Sue thought about a particular subject, be it about politics, popular culture, religion, cooking or her beloved Dallas Cowboys.

A Tireless Devotion to The Lord

Sue accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion CME Church in Redland and quickly found her calling in the church choir. If you thought Shirley Caesar could sing, then you missed out if you didn't see Sue with a microphone in her hand. She was a serious soprano who had more pipes than Acme Plumbing.  In her early days at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in the 1970s, she would bring tears to the congregation's eyes with "There's a Bright Side Somewhere." As the lead vocalist for the legendary J.E. Curtis Mass Choir at New Jerusalem, she wowed us with "Jesus, That's my King" and later "He's an On Time God. (Yes He is)." Sue worked tirelessly in church administration in finance, hospitality, benevolence and event planning while also proudly serving as Floyd's favorite Deaconess. Holidays and Butts family reunions weren't complete without her signature fried chicken, turnip greens and the perfect finish, her famous Italian cream cheesecake. The Rosses spent many summer weekends at the Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas with sister Jean, brother-in-law "Baby Ray" Golden and their adopted brother "Diamond" Jim Brooks. Yep, more nicknames. In later years, the kids took Sue, Ora Mae, Jean and Baby Ray to Shreveport-Bossier City for some Cajun seafood and fun on the slots.

Hers was a spectacular life spent in love for her family, church and community. She leaves an enduring legacy of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss her quick wit and that megawatt smile that lit up every room she entered. Sue ran her race and earned her long white robe with golden crown to match. She has taken her place in the angelic choir. In her final days, Sue said she was ready to rejoin her siblings and in the wee morning hours of Nov. 20, 2025, The Almighty summoned her home for a long-awaited family reunion. Butch, Preacher and the Butt Sisters: together again.