Community Corner

Mama Sue Makes The Most Out Of What She's Got

A formerly homeless Bradenton woman makes bouquets out of palm fronds and sells them to people on the sidewalk.

Diet coke, Subway cookies, cash and food were just some of the items given to Susan "Mama Sue" Quattlebaum, 59, as she practiced weaving roses from palm fronds at the Oaks Plaza in Bradenton on Saturday.

Quattlebaum has recently fallen on hard times. Her relatives live elsewhere and she has had health problems, keeping her from holding a full-time job.

A friend offered up his home, giving Quattlebaum shelter in return for good cooking and occasional cleaning, before that, she lived in a tent behind Sports Authority.

The Manatee County native has lived in Bradenton her whole life. But in the past few years life has been cruel. But Quattlebaum has managed to stay positive. Her energy and attitude are enough to put a smile on anyone's face. 

Ramon Mora, stops by to check on her at the Oaks Plaza whenever he can.

"She is such a nice lady," he said. "These young people, they choose not to work, but she is genuinely needy and I feel bad for her."

Quattlebaum said she makes the bouquets and crosses and sells them at "an affordable price," to the people who frequent the Acapulco Tropical grocery store in Bradenton. She prices her goods with others in mind. 

"Many of these people are really religious and I know they don't have a lot of money, but I think they should have a little something," she said of a crucifix with roses that she made from palm clippings.

Quattlebaum said she saw a man weaving roses out of palm fronds one day at a market. She watched him for days and picked up his clippings for a $2 compensation so she could learn the trade. She didn't leave until she had taught herself to weave.

Now on most days she sells her wares at the plaza.

"I get here in the morning and when I get too hot I go home," she said. "I'll come back in the afternoon." 

Over 27,000 people sought services provided by Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, an organization that serves Manatee and Sarasota counties, in 2012. Of the clients, over 7,000 were children. The organization estimated that one out of every 1,000 people will experience homelessness this year. 


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