Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Crenshaw County lost an icon this week.

Anyone who ever gotten food at the window of the Chicken Shack until four years ago, knew who Sue Bass was.

Better known to the Crenshaw county faithful as Miss Sue or the Voice of the Chicken Shack, her politeness and her amazing Southern draw were second to none.

She spent 35 years serving others before retiring from the famed Chicken Shack in 2016.

“I think what everybody knows Ms. Sue for was when she answered the phone,” said current restaurant owner Mike Money. “She has this Southern etiquette voice and that stood out. We had people who had lived here for so many years and then moved off call just to hear her talk on the phone. She just has that Southern accent.”

In a 2016 interview with Miss Sue, she said, “I’m going to miss my customers and coworkers. I’ve worked with a lot of them for many years, and now I’m going to spend some time with my children and grandchildren. I didn’t have much time to spend with them while I was working, so I’m going to enjoy them.”

Her daughter-in-law, SalLee Sasser-Williams remembered her as, “one of the most precious, sweetest souls. Miss Sue was an icon in Crenshaw County. She was a great mother, mother-in-law and MeMe to us.”

Williams said her mother-in-law prayed for everyone all the time.

“I had the best mother-in-law,” she said. “She was truly the best.”

Mandy Howard Stephenson, who worked alongside Miss Sue, said, “I loved having the opportunity to work beside her for several years at The Shack. She will be dearly missed.”

Megan Chandler, who worked at the Chicken Shack in high school remembered Miss Sue for being patient.

“She was always so patient and friendly when I was a clueless 16-year-old working at the Chicken Shack,” she said.

Christy Sinclair worked with Miss Sue at the Chicken Shack as well.

“It was great a great opportunity to work with Miss Susie Q for so many, many and many years,” Sinclair said. “She was a very sweet, loving and carrying lady. She will be dearly missed.”

Facebook posts conveyed just how much Miss Sue meant to the Crenshaw County community and how she left her mark on her small part of the world.

Miss Sue was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Melissa Ann Williams; parents, Ralph & Evelyn Sanders West; and niece, Tiffany Moman. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Donald Bass; her son and daughter-in-law, Tony and SalLee Williams; four grandchildren, Chase, Blake, MyLee, and MalLee; her sister, Frances (Buddy) Williams; two brothers-in-law, Jerry (Brenda) Bass and Jimmy (Angelyn) Bass; niece, Connie (Ken) Moman; two great-nieces, Kelly (Brett) Augsburger and Candi (Adam) Vann; two great-great-nieces, Lucy Vann and Avery Augsburger; and great-great-nephew, Aidan Augsburger. 

A celebration of life for Miss Sue will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, Sept. 20, at The Hanger on Airport Road.