Retha Sue Whitfield
Biography
Sue Whitfield was the wife of Joe Whitfield and the original pianist for the Dixie Echoes (billed as The Messengers until 1962). She played piano for the group from 1960-1970. She also appears in at least one earlier photo playing piano the Gospel Melody Quartet which later was rebranded as the Florida Boys.
In 1989, she performed at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion with other former Dixie Echoes members from the group's early years. That same year, Whitfield was charged with multiple counts of fraud, forgery, theft, and kidnapping. She was convicted and sentenced to prison in 1991 for 132 of the 133 total charges against her.