Mildred Eva Matthis

KINSTON — Mildred Eva Boney Matthis, 98, of 2312 Riley Road, Kinston died May 5, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 9, at Queen Street United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kim Lail and the Reverend Karl Grant officiating.

She was born in the Taylor's Bridge community of Sampson County, on Aug. 18, 1927, to James H. Boney and Eva Merritt Boney. Matthis was a longtime employee of Lenoir Community College in Kinston, where she was Dean of the Learning Resources Center until her retirement in 1992. Prior employment included librarian at Caswell Center and later at Sampson Elementary School in Kinston, as well as high school history teacher at North Lenoir High School. She was also a Link Trainer flight simulator instructor at Stallings Field in Kinston post-World War II.

A member of Queen Street United Methodist Church for over 70 years, she served in many capacities from the administrative board, director of religious education, board of trustees, staff-parish chair to Bible School teacher. She once joked that there probably wasn't a committee at Queen Street that she hadn't served on. She was involved in her son George's scouting experience early on as a den mother and later her family was named District Scouting Family of the Year for 1970.

She received many honors and awards during her lifetime, including 1989-90 Administrator of the Year from the Lenoir Community College Educational Office Personnel Association, the Achievement Award for Outstanding Service and Contributions to the North Carolina Community College Learning Resources Association and The Marquis Who's Who in America 54th Edition, 2000.

In retirement, she enjoyed working in the yard and until recently could frequently be found with a pair of scissors trimming the shrubbery. She, along with her husband George Sr., spent time between Kinston and Raleigh, where she provided strong character support to her two granddaughters and even taught character education to students at Pleasant Union Elementary School. She frequently spoke of the enjoyment she got from spending time with her granddaughters and knew they would grow up to become successful, outstanding young ladies in part because of her influence on them.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, George Clifton Matthis; a sister, Jean Boney Peterson of Clinton; and a brother, James D. Boney of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.

Mildred is survived by her son George Clifton Matthis Jr. of Raleigh; daughter-in-law, Debora S. Matthis of Hampstead; granddaughters, Haylie Elizabeth Matthis of Bethel and Jessica Eva Ann Matthis of Washington, D.C.; sister-in-law, Kay C. Boney of Tampa, Florida; brother, Jim O. Boney of Clinton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Queen Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 508, Kinston, NC, or to the George C. and Mildred B. Matthis Scholarship at Lenoir Community College, P.O. Box 188, Kinston, NC 28501.

Arrangements made by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations, 702 N. Queen St., Kinston, NC 28501. Online condolences may be made at www.edwardsfhc.com.