Marcella Mathews

Marcella Milligan Mathews, our precious mother, was joyfully reunited with her beloved husband at the feet of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, eight days short of her 97th birthday. Surrounded by her family, her death was a continuation of her life, peaceful and dignified. Marcy, as she was known by her friends, was born in Geneva, Alabama December 22, 1909. After her mother's death when she was just five, she was lovingly raised by her uncle Frank, and "Auntie", in Jacksonville, Florida. She taught second grade for a short period of time and enjoyed entertaining her family with tales of her teaching experiences. She married the love of her life in 1934 and later became a stay-at-home mother of their twins, Kaye & John. Other than her Lord and her family, the constant love of her life was music. She was a church organist for almost fifty years at the various churches they attended in the moves with her husband's job. She extended that love of music to the many students she taught for over twenty-five years. She took such a personal interest in her students and their families lives that many of them, now grandparents themselves, still communicate with her. She had a real gift of keeping in touch with the many friends she and her husband made over the almost sixty years of marriage. In fact, she still exchanged letters with three of her childhood friends for nearly eighty years. She will be missed by so many people who knew and loved her during her lifetime. A special thanks goes to her current church family at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, her dear friend Ginger and the many tender and compassionate doctors and nurses that cared for her at Garland Baylor, and her friends and the staff at Hearthstone Assisted Living in Garland. She is survived by her children: John & Maellen Mathews and Kaye & Doug Sharon; eight grandchildren & their spouses: Ward & Susan Mathews, John & Kelly Mathews, Ashley & Eric Ward, Jenya Mathews, Anna Mathews, Kathleen Mathews, Ryan Sharon, & Tucker & Renee Sharon; five very precious great-grandsons & one special great-granddaughter. We al have so many wonderful memories of her love for us all. We look forward to spending eternity with her and our Lord but this year she is enjoying Christmas at home in the loving arms of her Savior. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Friday, December 22, 2006, at 10:00 AM in the chapel of Sunnyvale First Baptist Church. The church is located at 3018 N. Beltline Road in Sunnyvale, ½ mile north of U.S. Hwy. 80. Internment will be in Leesburg, Florida on Tuesday, December 19. The family respectfully requests that flowers not be sent, but if desired, that gifts might be sent in her memory to her favorite charity, Children?s Hopechest, P. O. Box 8627, Pueblo, CO 81008-8627.