Beverly Sossomon

Family-Placed Death Notice

Beverly Allen Cone Matthews Sossomon, age 88, of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Asheville, NC, died on April 6, 2004, at Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center in Asheville, after a period of declining health. She was born in LaGrange, Georgia on March 30, 1916, the daughter of Wesley and Pope Allen Cone. The majority of her early life was spent in Decatur, Georgia. As a young adult, she was active in the Methodist Church. She attended Georgia State College for Women and graduated from Emory University, Atlanta, in 1938, with a BA in English Literature. She married William Arthur Matthews September 3, 1938. Dr. Matthews was a radiologist, and they lived where he trained and practiced: Atlanta, Georgia; Rock Hill, South Carolina; Sylva, Cullowhee and Highlands, North Carolina. They maintained a summer home in Highlands for most of their lives. Beverly was of great assistance to her husband by helping support the family while he was in medical school, in the establishment of the first hospital in Highlands and in the development of Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, also in Highlands. She was involved in community and church groups wherever they lived. By personal example, she imparted to her daughters a love of books, music, nature and the environment. After Dr. Matthews' death in 1972, she married Daniel Creighton Sossomon on April 22, 1973. They made their home in Cullowhee, North Carolina, where Mrs. Sossomon continued her community involvement through the Cullowhee Garden Club, St. David's Episcopal Church and Western Carolina University. She established the W.A. Matthews Scholarship and the B.P. Allen Faculty Development Grant at Oxford College of Emory University, and continued the D.C. Sossomon Faculty Endowment at Western Carolina University. After Dr. Sossomon's death in 1993, Mrs. Sossomon returned to Highlands, where she lived until 2001, when she moved to Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Guerry M. (Ernest)McConnell of Rogersville, Tennessee; Lynn M. (Eddy)Killette of Belmont, North Carolina; Beverly Ann M. Sanders (Gene Lyda) of Powder Springs, Georgia; Patti Matthews (Norman) Hart of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia; and Creighton W. (Janet) Sossomon of Highlands, North Carolina; a brother, John Cone and wife Jerry, of Roswell, Georgia; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. At Mrs. Sossomon's request, she will be cremated, and Moody Funeral Home, Sylva, NC., is in charge of those arrangements. A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Sossomon at The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, Highlands, North Carolina on April 10, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands, NC., 28741, Mountain Area Hospice Solace Center, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC, 28813, the Employees Christmas Fund, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Asheville, NC, 28803, or to the charity of your choice. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com