Mary Sue Newton Obituary

Mary Sue “Big Red” Newton, 66 of Opelika, AL died January 6, 2022, at Oak Park Nursing Home.

She was born on September 18, 1955, in Valley, Alabama. She was the daughter of the late Joseph Robert Waller & Bonnie Sue (Johnson) Waller.

She was a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl. She helped her father tend to their family farm. She had a cow named Betsy that she loved dearly that would wrap her head around to hug her. She had so many friends and cousins that she loved dearly. When she would have sleepovers with her cousins on the Waller side of the family all the cousins would form a sea of red hair wherever they laid their heads to rest. In her teen years, she loved to go to the drive-in movies and the local bowling alley. She had very fond memories of all the reunions with the Waller and Johnson families. The Johnson family were known to put on very funny skits and plays at their reunion. For many years the family would go to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to spend a lovely time with the Waller family. We would explore the parks and attractions together as a family.

She graduated from Valley High School in 1973, Opelika Trade School in 1975, and Southern Union in 1977. She graduated from Auburn University with her bachelor’s degree in 1980. She was a huge Auburn football fan. She loved to watch football in general. Her favorite game to watch was when Auburn played Alabama! While attending school, she worked at Valley Haven, The Chambers County Health Department, and the Valley Humane Society. She served as a social worker until her retirement at the Department of Human Resources in LaFayette, Alabama. She retired after 20 years in 2019. She was very fond of her director and coworkers. They were not just friends, they were family. During her time as a social worker, she cared deeply for the welfare of her clients and worked very hard to make sure all their needs were met to the best of her ability.