Sue Denig Leatherman, of Huntsville, AL, passed away quietly at home while under hospice care on April 21, 2025 at the age of 72.

Sue is survived and most loved by her husband Dennis A. Leatherman; daughter Kristina Leatherman Madh (Anass, children and grandchildren Olivia and Liam; sons Benjamin Leatherman and Matthew Leatherman (Emily, children and grandchildren Frankie and Finn), and sister Dorothy Denig Ray (Garland, children Steve Ray and Becky Watson); and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Sue, having been the youngest of her siblings, was preceded in death by her parents Carl Jacob Denig and Olive Rupert Denig and brothers Robert "Bob" Denig of Columbus, Ohio (Shirley, children Jeff and Jody), Sherman "Bud" Denig of Jackson, Michigan (Pat, children Rick, Ron, Randy and Tom), John Denig of Carabelle, Florida (Marlene, children Terry, Jimmy, Don and Wendy), David Denig of Orlando, FL, and Rev. Richard "Dick" Denig of North Carolina (Hazel, children Charles and Michael).

Sue Denig Leatherman was born Sue Ann Denig on July 26, 1952 in Jackson, Michigan to Carl and Olive Denig. She grew up with her family on Oakhill Avenue in Jackson, Michigan and graduated from Western High School in 1970 after moving to Parma, Michigan.

Almost two years after graduating from high school, Sue met Dennis Leatherman on a blind date.  The two of them became very close and were married on April 14, 1973.  Two years later, they started a family of three children, while having moved earlier to Orlando, Florida.

Sue later moved back to Michigan to attend college and graduated with honors from Eastern Michigan University in 1992, and she was granted a membership to the Golden Key National Honor Society.  She majored in English Language and Literature and, upon graduating, she taught writing at Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan and Spring Arbor College in Spring Arbor, Michigan.

Sue also had an avid interest in performing and visual arts and was an accomplished costume designer and seamstress working with Walt Disney World and Tupperware Jubilee in Orlando, Florida.  She worked on various stage plays and productions in Florida, Michigan, and Alabama.  While in Huntsville, she worked with Theater Huntsville (The Miracle Worker), Huntsville Chorus (The King and I) and Renaissance Theater (The Maltese Falcon).

When Sue retired, she continued her creative endeavors with paper clay sculptures.  Some of the themes she enjoyed creating were people in every day situations and children at play.

Sue Denig Leatherman was a dedicated Christian and at an early age professed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was an active member of several Baptist churches in the different cities in which she resided.  Wherever she moved, her first priority was to find a church home.  Her number one love was teaching her first grade class when she was a member of First Baptist Church Orlando.  She also served as a secretary for two Southern Baptist Associations in south central Michigan.  After her stroke in 2021, Sue enjoyed the visits of Hospice Chaplain Rev. Alford McClaney, who helped her with his spiritual journey.

Special message from Dennis...

We also want to thank all the people at Aveanna Hospice for their love and dedicated assistance to Sue and myself which helped me to become a better caregiver to Sue.  For them, I am truly grateful!

The family will receive friends for Sue on Monday, June 2nd  3:00 - 4:00 PM at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 North Memorial Parkway; Huntsville, AL 35810. Memorial service will follow at 4:00.