Gwendolyn Cole Matthews

Gwendolyn Cole Matthews passed away peacefully on December 11, 2024, at the age of 97, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and libations.
Born on February 24, 1927, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Gwen lived a life marked by resilience, joy, and the deepest devotion to her family.
Despite her propensity to remind every young woman in her life to behave like a lady, Gwen was a mischievous rebel at heart. She spent her formative years playing outside in the Mississippi heat with boys who may have been bigger than she, but never smarter or tougher. She loved a good joke as much as she loved to dance - but there was nothing she loved more than her family.
This was especially true in her 67 year-long marriage to the late Jesse Print Matthews Jr.- her soulmate and best friend- who no doubt greeted her at the pearly gates with a kiss and a cocktail.
Many, many years ago, on Christmas Eve, Jesse showed up at Juniker Jewelry to take his best friend, Beryl, to lunch. Upon walking through the door, he decided to ask the girl behind the register out instead. Jesse whisked Gwen off for a movie-and a lifetime of love. Spontaneity was her default, and the pair ran off to Oxford, Mississippi, to elope. As fate would have it, Gwen and Jesse were married by the same pastor who had officiated the wedding of Jesse's own parents. Together, they built a life filled with joy and adventure, raising six wonderful children, doting on 12 grandchildren, celebrating 26 great-grandchildren, and delighting in the arrival of one great-great-grandchild.
When asked how many people were in her family, Gwen would often say, "I don't know, there's a whole slew of 'em - look over there," gesturing to the credenza that played host to dozens of photographs of every member of the still growing family.
Gwen will be remembered as a Jill-of-all-trades and a master of many. She could whip up a gourmet meal with whatever was in the kitchen (though it would often not be ready til half past nine), paint museum-worthy landscapes with ease, hit a golf ball better than most pros, and host a gathering no one ever wanted to leave. Her humor, warmth, and resilience left an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Gwen is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Latha Cole; her husband, Jesse Print Matthews Jr.; and her beloved sons, Print (Sherrie), Keith (Judy), and Ken (Whit). She is survived by her daughter, Donna Cummings (Bob), and her sons, Brett (Terri) and Alan (Nancy) Matthews. She also leaves behind her treasured grandchildren and their families, who will carry on her legacy of love, laughter, and, of course, libations.