Morgan County and indeed the whole State of Alabama lost one of the finest public office holders when former License Commissioner Sue Baker Roan passed away at her home on Sun., Nov. 22, 2015.

When one “googles” this outstanding elected official one comes up with not just a few but literally thousands of references to her in both official and unofficial sources.

Even though Mrs. Roan was a lifelong Democrat who never switched parties due to shifting public opinion toward the two parties, she had no enemies in either camp. During her distinguished elective career extending over a period of three decades she continued to “win friends and influence people”—always for good.

Sue Baker was born on July 21, 1930, to Max and Texie Rodgers Baker. Although she came into this world in a happy home, she was destined to experience great pain and sorrow in her time on this earth. Nevertheless, she had an unshakeable faith in Almighty God. Despite the death of her beloved husband, Bunyan Roan Sr., on March 4,1991, she continued to have a very positive outlook on life. Also, despite being attacked by cancer four times (as well as other major illnesses), her belief in a loving God never wavered. She once said: “God has been good to me so that’s why I love being good to others.”

Mrs. Roan was an active member of the Hartselle First Baptist Church. She had a special appreciation for the Kids’ Backpack program at First Baptist.

She was a hard worker, not only in her role as mother in rearing her and Bunyan’s children but in the business world as well. Her first major employment was in the 1970s when she worked in the bookkeeping department of the First National Bank of Decatur (AmSouth).

After leaving the bank she initially became familiar with public service in an official capacity by serving as bailiff for Judge David Breland. This position inspired her to want to be of further public service. In 1982 she ran for and was elected to a position on the Morgan County Board of Education. Mrs. Roan has the distinction of being the first woman elected to public office in Morgan County. In 1990 Sue Baker Roan was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for a vacancy in District Six on the State Board of Education. This loss, however, did not discourage her, even she when got a smaller vote total than a candidate with a much lower degree of commitment to the cause of public education than she had.

Mrs. Roan attracted such favorable notice for her service on the Morgan County Board of Education that in 1994 then-Governor Jim Folsom Jr., appointed her as the Morgan County License Commissioner—a position she was uniquely qualified for. She was elected to this office in 1996, 2002, and 2008.

Her long service as license commissioner was distinguished by the innovations she brought to the office—each one of which was designed to make this unit of county government much more user friendly as far as serving the public was concerned. She replaced the rundown filing cabinets in her office with a modern computer system. She installed benches for people to sit on while they waited to transact license-related business. She moved the Hartselle satellite license office to a more convenient location in the Crestwood Shopping Center. In 2006, she opened a rural tag office in the underserved eastern section of Morgan County. She wanted to bring the benefits of her office as close as possible to the homes of all county residents.

Even though she was not in a popularity contest the general consensus was that Sue Baker Roan was the best liked politician in Morgan County. Rhona Howell Summerford, widow of District Three Commissioner Joe Summerford, said she had “probably done more for people in Morgan County than anyone I know.” We would all be better off if more of those to whom we entrust public office had more of the qualities that Sue Baker Roan possessed in such great abundance.