Stella Matthews Staley

Stella Matthews Staley, 94 of Colonial Heights, Virginia passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024. She was born December 15, 1929. She was proceeded in death by her husband, George Thomas Staley, her parents, William Edd and Miley Bass Matthews, brothers, David Earl Matthews, Jack Noble Matthews, and sister Jane Matthews Bass. Mrs. Staley was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church for 64 years. She taught school for many years. The last 30 years of her career she taught 8th grade Math at Colonial Heights Middle School, where she was well known for her “Staley Stories”. She is survived by her three daughters, Jackie Staley Farley, Anna Staley Ponder (Jimmy), and Georgia Staley Sink (Bob); son-in-law, Gary Farley (Sheryl), grandchildren, Tommy Farley (Ginny), Katie Ortega (Oscar), Jeff Farley (Sierra), Doug Ponder (Jessica), Drew Ponder (Jordan), Ryan Ponder, Abby Wilson (Jake), Daniel Sink (Kim,) Ashley McGuire (Adam), Annabeth Fields (Jarrett), Matthew Sink (fiancé Hayden), Alby Farley, and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother James William Matthews and sister-in-law Serena Matthews. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday September 19, 2024, in the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Home & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, Virginia with the Reverend Doug Ponder officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, 2901 W Hundred Road, Chester Virginia. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the funeral home. Flowers are welcome. As well as an educator, Mrs. Staley was an avid reader and donations may be made to Colonial Heights Library, 1000 Yacht Basin Drive, Colonial Heights Virginia 23834.