Mattie Brown Sitgraves

ROCK HILL - Mrs. Mattie Brown Sitgraves passed away Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, S.C.

She was born Jan. 7, 1919, in Catawba, S.C., a daughter of the late Joe and Omega Roddy Brown. She was the fifth child of twelve siblings and was preceded in death by Joe Willie, J.T., Dewit, Billy, Lucille, Geneva and Lucy, Mary Kelly, and daughter, Doris Sitgraves Cumberback.

She received her formal education in the public schools of York County, S.C. During her youth, she attended Foundation A.M.E. Zion Church and Mount Hebron Baptist Church. At age seventeen, she moved to Rock Hill. There she began attending Flint Hill Baptist Church where she confessed her faith in Christ, was baptized and joined the church under the leadership of the late Rev. Saunders. Her Christian journey began at Flint Hill Baptist Church.

It was at church where she met and married the love of her life, Thomas David Sitgraves. They were married for 63 years. To this union, four children were born.

Mattie and Thomas lived in many cities: Youngstown, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pa.; Plainfield, N.J.; and lived 25 years in Bronx, N.Y. At their retirement, they moved back home to Rock Hill, S.C.

In 1947, Mattie was ordained deaconess under the leadership of Pastor Saunders. In 1978, she returned to her spiritual roots here at Flint Hill Baptist Church and continued her service under the leadership of Pastor Walter Banks White. She was a true ambassador for Christ. She knew it was all about Jesus. She was dedicated and served Him with gladness.

Mattie was serious about her duties and was never late. She served faithfully in many of the church's ministries such as the missionary society, musical choir, mass choir, adult Sunday school, feeding of the hungry, the clothes closet, B.T.U., summer youth program, the after-school program, and Wednesday Bible study (9 a.m. and 7 p.m.). She served the deaconess ministry for 64 years and was woman of the year on more than one occasion.

Those who shared the sorrow and joy of Mattie's life and survive to cherish her memory are her daughter, Janette Simpson and her husband, George, of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sons, Laben Sitgraves and his wife, Ella, and Laurence Sitgraves and his wife, Susan, both of Rock Hill; a sister, Bessie Pitts of Clover, S.C.; two brothers, John Brown of Philadelphia, Pa., and J.C. Brown of Clover; a sister-in-law, Helen Lathan of Durham, N.C.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other grieving relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, at Flint Hill Baptist Church. The body will lie in state one hour before service. Her pastor, the Rev. Cedric C. Maddox will officiate. Burial will follow in Barber Memorial Cemetery. The body may be viewed Monday beginning at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Clemons-McCray Funeral Home is serving the family.