Inez Mathews

"You slipped away quietly. Perhaps it was for the best. May God grant you sweet peace and quiet rest."

On Monday, August 29, 2022, God lovingly lifted Inez Mathews into His arms and gently released her from the physical body into eternal rest. Inez was born in Washington, DC on June 28, 1945 to the late Irene and Thomas Dukes. She was next to the youngest of seven children-five brothers and one sister. She attended D.C. Public Schools, where she graduated from Eastern High School in 1963. She was very smart in school but had a "smart" mouth and feisty attitude too. After high school, Inez married her high school sweetheart, Raymond Love, and together they had two children. They later divorced and remained friends who were devoted to raising their children. Inez met her soulmate George Mathews in 1976 and married him on April 17, 1985. They enjoyed sixteen wonderful years together before George passed away on September 6, 1992.

Inez worked for the US Coast Guard as a secretary until 1977. Then, she became a care provider and homemaker for forty years! She babysat lots of children and taught them basic skills before they began school. She had a daily routine and ran a "tight ship" with the children, which they all later appreciated. She preferred for everyone to call her "Ms. Inez" versus Ms. Mathews.

Although she did not attend church, Inez accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior at an early age. She was a praying woman that truly loved the Lord. She enjoyed watching live church sermons on TV and listening to her favorite gospel songs on the radio or CD player. When she loved a song, she would sway her arms back and forth to the beat and bob her head. Inez loved to cook big meals for her family every Sunday. She also enjoyed going for long walks to get exercise and going to several stores to shop for things she already had. She never wanted to run out of anything.

Inez loved her siblings and had special nicknames for each one: Iretha aka Ree, Louis aka Buckey Mouth, Cline aka Gang Bustard, Elbert aka Moose, June aka Ginninipple and last but not least, Lee aka Boola Boola.

Inez was preceded in death by her husband, George Mathews and three brothers, Lovet Person, Jr., Thomas Person and Cline Dukes.

Inez leaves to cherish her son, Dr. Antonio Love (Ronschall) of Lee's Summit, MO; daughter, Lachele Love of California, MD; one sister, Iretha Person of Washington, DC; two brothers, Louis Dukes, Sr. and Lee Person of Washington, DC; five grandchildren, Symphony Love aka Lamb, Bijon McDowell aka Mr. BJ, Nikkita Allen (Antonio), Raphael Love (Amanda) and Antonio Love, Jr. (Jasmine); five great-grandchildren, Mekhi Love, Antonio Allen Jr., Amelia Allen, Avian Love and Octavia Love. She also leaves to cherish her longtime friends, Doris Minor, Joyce Sasser, Gloria Chrichlow, Henrietta Johnson and Sarah Davis, as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Family and friends will unite on Friday, September 16, 2022 for visitation from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm; prayers beginning at 5:30 pm, at Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, 38576 Brett Way, Mechanicsville, MD. On Saturday, September 17, 2022, visitation will be from 10:00 am-11:00 am; service from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at Lincoln Parkway United Methodist Church, 1301 North Carolina Avenue, NE, Washington, DC. Interment to follow at Washington National Cemetery, 4101 Suitland Road, Hillcrest Heights, MD 20746.