Mattie McCarthy, aged 101, passed away on December 15, 2025, in Victorville, CA. She was a resident of Perth Amboy, NJ for 54 years before moving to Victorville in 2006. Born on June 1, 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama, Mattie was a cherished member of the Henderson and McCarthy families, known for her role as a beloved matriarch.
Throughout her life, Mattie demonstrated a profound commitment to her career in healthcare. She served at Perth Amboy General Hospital/Raritan Bay Medical Center from 1957 until 1989, and later joined the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, where she continued her service from 1998 to 2006. Her dedication to nursing and patient care left a lasting impact on many lives.
Mattie was a proud alumna of A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and furthered her education by attending Middlesex County College (Associates), Jersey City State College (Bachelors), and Wagner College (Masters). She majored in nursing at all three. She was a member of the Chi Eta Phi Sorority of nurses. Her educational pursuits laid a strong foundation for her successful career. A dedicated nurse, she inspired several others to join the profession.
A member of the Victorville Church of Christ and a former member of the Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, Mattie was deeply rooted in her community. Her personal interests included cooking and traveling, with particular fondness for trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where she enjoyed the vibrant life and energy of the cities.
Mattie is survived by her sons, Kenneth and Tommie Vernell McCarthy and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom McCarthy Jr., and her daughter, Sylvia Jean Garrett.
Memorial services will be held in Louisville, KY, Central NJ, and Detroit, MI, with dates to be determined in May 2026. Mattie's life and legacy will be celebrated across the communities that she held dear, honoring a life richly lived and deeply cherished.
A legend in life, now, she belongs to the ages.
Throughout her life, Mattie demonstrated a profound commitment to her career in healthcare. She served at Perth Amboy General Hospital/Raritan Bay Medical Center from 1957 until 1989, and later joined the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, where she continued her service from 1998 to 2006. Her dedication to nursing and patient care left a lasting impact on many lives.
Mattie was a proud alumna of A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and furthered her education by attending Middlesex County College (Associates), Jersey City State College (Bachelors), and Wagner College (Masters). She majored in nursing at all three. She was a member of the Chi Eta Phi Sorority of nurses. Her educational pursuits laid a strong foundation for her successful career. A dedicated nurse, she inspired several others to join the profession.
A member of the Victorville Church of Christ and a former member of the Second Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, Mattie was deeply rooted in her community. Her personal interests included cooking and traveling, with particular fondness for trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where she enjoyed the vibrant life and energy of the cities.
Mattie is survived by her sons, Kenneth and Tommie Vernell McCarthy and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom McCarthy Jr., and her daughter, Sylvia Jean Garrett.
Memorial services will be held in Louisville, KY, Central NJ, and Detroit, MI, with dates to be determined in May 2026. Mattie's life and legacy will be celebrated across the communities that she held dear, honoring a life richly lived and deeply cherished.
A legend in life, now, she belongs to the ages.
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