Sue C. Warner

Sue C. Warner was born February 5, 1940, in Greenbriar, Arkansas to C. Jack and Winnie Cato. She lived a full life of 85 years before passing away in her home Thursday, August 14, 2025. Sue spent most of her life in dedication to education, service, family, and God.

Her journey in education started at a young age and she graduated high school in Walnut Ridge in 1958 before earning her bachelor’s at her cherished alma mater Arkansas State University. She would continue post education to teach elementary and middle school, and then eventually helped inspire future teachers through her adjunct role at Henderson State University. Having impacted several young people, her former students still remember her fondly.

During her education journey and beyond, she exemplified the term “servant leader”. Her high school yearbook boasts a laundry list of various student positions, with some titles like President 55-56 and FHA Royalty 56-57. While in college she won a Distinguished Service Award and continued to volunteer well into her adult life. She served various volunteer roles with the Clark County Democrats, served on the Arkadelphia School Board, and was active in different clubs like her garden and book clubs. As a life-long churchgoer and follower of Jesus Christ, she also volunteered at places like Lighthouse Ministries.

Family was extremely important to Sue. She was very close with her parents growing up and remained close with her siblings throughout her life. She married her childhood sweetheart Bill Warner and together they had two children, Mark and Kirk Warner. She’s preceded in death by her parents, C. Jack and Winnie Cato and her husband Bill Warner. She is survived by her siblings Jack Cato, Jane (Bill) Foster, and Mary Ann Stipe Along with her sons Mark (LaDonna) Warner and Kirk (Hope) Warner, and their four children, Sarah (Dan), Isaac, Nathan (Addison), and Rebekah. And by many other beloved family members and her life-long friends.

Sue Warner was the kind of woman who loved her family fiercely, worked hard and advocated for the downtrodden. She loved to read and garden, rocked out at an Elvis concert when he visited Pocahontas, and attended First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia regularly. She’ll be missed dearly by her family and friends and those who knew her.

As her high school yearbook says, “To know her is to love her and to love her but forever.”

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 22nd at 1pm with the memorial service to follow at 2pm. Both services will take place at First Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, people can honor her memory by donating in her honor to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home Arkadelphia-Ruggles Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.  www.smithfamilycares.com