Betty "Sue" Merchant

Betty Sue Merchant, 87, of Columbus, died Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, April 28, 2025 at 2:00 pm from the chapel of Memorial Funeral Home, with Rev. Jerry Smith officiating and Rev. Rodney Brazil assisting. Visitation will be Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 6:00 om to 9:00 pm at the funeral home.

Sue was born February 4, 1938 in Vernon, Al to the Late Emmett O. and Clara Mae Hall Gilmore. She was married to the late Bobby Merchant. She moved to Columbus in 1976 and became a member of Victory Freewill Baptist Church, where she remained active until her health prevented her from participating. She loved to send cards at Christmas, special events, and especially birthdays. Sue retired from Willcutt Block after a number of years. Finding staying at home hard to do, she became a volunteer at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle, where she was able to serve and socialize and provide a happy face to patients and family alike. She was selected as Volunteer of the Month in February 2016. She loved to travel the country side to attend southern gospel music concerts and would often drag friends, willing and unwilling to go with her. Working in her yard and her plants was her past time when at home. She had two loves in her life: She loved the Lord and served him faithfully and her children and grandchildren. She read her Bible daily, just to start her day. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby; her parents; 4 sisters, Gladys Gray, Helen Gill, Virginia Patrick, and Linda Brack; and 3 brothers, James, Johnnie, and Leon Gilmore. She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Jim) Ritter of Vernon, AL; son, Greg (Lashearer) Merchant of Columbus, MS; 2 sisters, Biddie Cantrell of Denton, TX and Mary Ann (Danny) Stamp of Vernon, AL; 3 brothers, Bud (Debbie) Gilmore of Lake, TX, Bobby (Teresa) Gilmore ofSanger, TX, and Dale (Brenda) Gilmore of San Antonio, tX; 8 grandchildren, Brandy Newell, Rae Ann Ingram, Alicia Wheeler, Hunter Sims, Jamie Merchant, Brailey Reed, Jason Ritter, and Courtney Pennignton; 14 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. 

Pallbearers will be Wesley Newell, Brian Wheeler, JT Shackelford, Justin Pruitt, Jamie Merchant, Hunter Sims, Jason Ingram, and Dylan Reed. 

Honorary pallbearers will be Tyler Wheeler, Jaxon Wheeler, Ethan Ingram, Mary Willcutt, Sue Ann Carden, Debra Knox, Roadie Cunningham, Charles and Elwanna Johnson, Gene Colley, Jim and Elizabeth Harrel, Rev. Al Hamm, BMH-GT Volunteers, and the Staff of The Arrington. 

The livestream service will begin shortly before 2 p.m. at the following link: 

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=981241b2-023d-4b4b-9f4f-a7e77a4b33d7