Jessie Matthews Obituary

Jessie McKeown Matthews

Cleveland

Jessie Matthews, 93 years old, died on December 24, 2015 in Cleveland, MS. Visitation will be 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Wednesday at Lakewood Funeral Home in Jackson, MS. Funeral services will follow with burial in Lakewood Memorial Park.

She was born December 29, 1921 to John S. and Emmie B. McKeown in Chester County, SC. She married Luther W. Matthews on June 8, 1945 while he was stationed with the U. S. Navy in Rhode Island. When WWII ended, they moved to Jackson, MS where he was employed with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Aviation Administration. They lived there until 2005 when her husband's health declined and they moved to Cleveland, MS to be near their son, Robert and his family.

Jessie was a faithful member of Van Winkle United Methodist Church for over 60 years. She taught Sunday School in the Children's Division and later taught the Fidelis Ladies Class for several years. She enjoyed being active in the Senior Citizen Group and the United Methodist Women for many years.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, her parents, three sisters, Emmie Uldrick, Beth Miller, Pam Bennett, brother, Lt. Arthur McKeown who was killed in WWII, and granddaughter, Kerry Larkin.

One brother, John W. McKeown, Columbia, SC survives along with her four children, John D. Matthews, Huntsville, AL; Jane Larkin, Pace, FL; Thomas W. Matthews, Natchez, MS; and Robert A. Matthews, Cleveland, MS. Twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Van Winkle United Methodist Church, 3810 Robinson Road, Jackson, MS, 39209.

Please visit lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for online guestbook.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Clarion Ledger on Dec. 27, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Jessie Matthews

8 Entries

Denny & Ladine Blaylock

December 29, 2015

Dear John, Jane, Tom, Bob. So sorry to learn of your mother's death. She was a neighborhood mother to eight to ten little rogue Van Winkle ruffians for many years....she coached us, directed us, guided us, controlled the backyard water faucet that was always left running, provided Bandaids when we scrapped our knees trying to outdo each other 'high jumping' the fence' etc. What an array of many warm and fond memories! So sorry we will miss the services.

Katherine Malvina Phillips

December 28, 2015

Dear John, Jane, Tom and Bob, I am so very sad about the death of your Mother, my Aunt Jessie. I will miss her phone calls and will treasure all the information she sent me and shared with me about family history. She was the last of my father's generation and was a great lady.

Katherine McClam

December 28, 2015

John, Jane, Tom, Bob, & family,
I am so sorry about Jessie's death. Our telephone conversations and her knowledge of family history will really be missed.
She was a wonderful Christian lady and
I will miss her. I am so sorry I can not be with you for the funeral. You
will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Cousin Katherine Hicklin McClam

A. M.

December 28, 2015

My sympathy goes out to the family during your time of grief. May God's loving-kindness comfort you and help you through this difficult time. (Psalm 119:50,76)

December 28, 2015

Seems like only yesterday that we all played together in our old neighborhood and worshiped together at VWMC. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Blessings, Martha Kaye Russell, Toby Stovall, Steve Stovall and Bill and Carolyn Stovall.

December 27, 2015

John, Tom, Bob, and Jane, The pillar of the old Van Winkle community and Van Winkle Methodist church has passed. Jessie was a great asset to the neighborhood. I always enjoyed talking to her and she had such a keen interest in what was going on in everyone's lives. We are sorry for your loss. Absent from the body, present with the Lord! Vicki Ramsey and Ann Blaylock

Louise H Hudson

December 27, 2015

What a lovely person Aunt Jessie was always - from the first time I met her, when she was 26 years old and I was 16! I was blessed to be able to go to college at Millsaps near where she and Weeder lived for so long and happily. She was a wonderful addition to our family. We will miss her as long as we live.

Harry & Virginia Miller

December 26, 2015

Dear Matthews Family,

Virginia and I were very saddened to hear of Aunt Jessie's passing. While we haven't seen her in many years, she was always so kind in sending us notes about your family's current happenings, as well as information on the history of the McKeown Family.

We are sorry that we cannot be there for her services, but we want you to know that you are in our prayers.

With Sympathy,
Harry and Virginia Miller

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