Carla Chappell Matheson

Carla Chappell Matheson
February 13, 1956 - July 6, 2012
Windermere, Florida
Carla Chappell Matheson, age 56, passed away in an automobile accident on Friday, July 6, 2012, in her hometown of Windermere, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. She was preceded in death by her mother Carol Mae Farmer Chappell of Wake Forest on May 11, 2012. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, and reared both there and in Wake Forest, Carla was a devoted wife, mother, college professor and an ardent fan of literature, film, and music. She sang in the church choir most of her adult life. She was a quiet advocate for the downtrodden, including women in Rwanda who suffered through genocide and in South Africa, where AIDS had ravished the female population. She traveled on several mission trips to those countries. She graduated from Ravenscroft School and attended Saint Mary's College, later graduating from Salem College. She then received a Masters in English from Texas Christian University. Many of the people who knew her described her as a "classy lady." Everyone felt Carla's presence when she entered the room. She was a person of powerful emotions who was vivacious, engaging, fun, and empathetic; and she loved to help people overcome life's obstacles, offering both solicited and unsolicited advice. She was notable for her natural beauty, generosity of spirit, kindness, and unconditional love of all people regardless of class or status in life.
She is survived by her husband Dr. Mark Matheson, her adoring children, a son, Lieutenant Andrew Matheson (Ann Marie) of Fairfax, Virginia, and a daughter, attorney Emily Matheson of Orlando, Florida. She is also survived by her father Carlton E. Chappell of Wake Forest, her brother Bradley W. Chappell of Faison (Terrence L. Grimes), her sister, Leslie Chappell Krussow (Scott) and their daughters Anna and Carly of Youngsville, one uncle, several aunts, and numerous cousins in Kentucky, Virginia, NC, and Florida, as well as by friends nationwide. She also is survived by her mother-in-law Jean Kirschenbaum of The Villages, Florida, two brothers-in-law, Dr. Barry Matheson of Bristol, Virginia, and Jay Matheson of Nashville, Tennessee, and their spouses and children. A memorial service will be held on a future date at First Baptist Church of Orlando. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to E3 Partners Ministry, Rwanda Country Fund, 2001 W. Plano Parkway/Suite 2600, Plano, TX 75075, to support ministry work in Rwanda.