Susan "Sue" Chester Wickliff

On July 14, 2025, Susan Ann “Sue” Wickliff of Houston, Texas, surrounded by family, went home peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  She lived full days and she was always willing to share her kind and warm spirit with others.

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Sue was born February 16, 1948, in Cambridge, MA; her parents were Bennie Ruth Chester (affectionately known as “Gran”) and Joseph P. Chester. Sue and her family stayed in the Boston area for a few years, and then relocated to Houston, where Sue matriculated through grade school.  She graduated from Jack Yates High School in 1966, and then received a Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Southern University in 1971.  

 

Although Sue loved all her siblings, she was particularly close to her little sister, Mary Lou, who was born 11 months after Sue. People joked that you could not see one without the other. After graduating from college, Sue and Mary Lou moved to Philadelphia together to teach in the public school system. Sue stayed in the Northeast and graduated with her Master’s Degree in Education from Boston College in 1973.

 

When Sue returned to Houston, her sister, Velma Jones, set her up on a blind date with Aloysius Martin “Marty” Wickliff, Jr. Sue and Marty had an immediate spark and connection; they dated long-distance for one year while Marty worked towards his Master’s Degree in Labor Law at NYU Law School. They were married in August 1974 at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in a jointly officiated ceremony conducted by Rev. William Lawson and a local priest. After their wedding, they took a seven-month honeymoon in New York City while Marty completed his studies.

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When Sue returned to Houston with her husband, they were welcomed to live with Gran, whose kindness and wisdom were instrumental in helping the young couple get established. While Marty began his legal career, Sue joyfully taught 4th grade at Poe Elementary School.  In the midst of teaching, she welcomed 3 children into the world (Erin, Eliot, and Edward “Bo”).  Sue was a loving and dedicated mother and always ready to provide a warm hug, listening ear, and unwavering support.  She never missed any of Erin’s piano performances, cheered Eliot through his medical school studies and training, and encouraged Bo to “bloom where you are planted.”  As a Christian mother, she often quoted Dr. Charles Stanley to her children: “Obey God and leave all of the consequences to Him.”  She was happy to welcome Todd, Melli, and Roxann into the Wickliff family and was delighted to have 8 grandchildren whom she adored and loved being their “Grandma Sue.”

 

Sue had a passion for community work, altruism, and philanthropy.  She served on boards and volunteered with numerous organizations, including the Spouses of Houston Barristers, the Urban League, the Parkwood Drive Civic Club, Golden Triangle Garden Club (founded by her grandmother Jesse Chester), Links Inc., Jack and Jill of America, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.   However, when asked her occupation or required to fill in an occupation on any form, she proudly called herself a “Homemaker.” Homemaker was a fitting moniker because she turned empty wooden shells into homes for her family and the community. Whether it was her first bungalow home on Binz Street or her Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired “dream home” on South Parkwood Drive, she used her “green thumb” to beautify the exterior, her creativity to renovate the interior, and her boundless love to ensure that every home was filled with joy. Her kindness was not reserved just for her family; she routinely opened her homes for community gatherings, extended-family functions, and philanthropic fundraisers.

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Sue joins her mother, father, and her sister, Mary Lou Chester Moran, who predeceased her. Sue leaves behind a community of family and friends who love and miss her dearly. She is survived by her loving husband of 50+ years, Marty, and their children, Erin (Todd), Eliot (Melli), and Bo (Roxann); her sisters Helene Arnold (Darnell), Donna Jo, Velma (Robert) and brother, Joseph P. Chester (Marilyn); as well as eight grandchildren (Savannah, Hope, Holly, Juliette, Matthew, Johnny, Luke, and Joey) and many nieces and nephews. Sue’s Memory will forever be cherished by those who were touched by her grace, warmth, smile, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.