Ellazeen Mathews

The matriarch of our family, Ellazeen Mathews, passed away Saturday, March 21st in Sacramento, CA. She had just celebrated her 95th birthday on March 14th, one week prior, before she went to be with the Lord surrounded by family and friends peacefully in her home. Born Ellazeen Robinson, she entered the world on March 14, 1920 in Mer Rouge, LA to Greene and Samarie Robinson. The oldest of 12 kids, she was very protective of her siblings. She was also a friend to many and lovingly became known as "Sista." She lived in Bastrop and Baton Rouge Louisiana. She met Orick "Buddy" Mathews, Sr. in Mer Rouge Louisiana while he was working at a local paper mill and training to be a mechanic. The two married on Sept 19th 1950 and moved from Louisiana to Hawthorne, Nevada in 1954 where she settled in as a home maker. Eight kids later, she started working as a dishwasher and baker at the El Capitan Restaurant. Her baking was infamous - tea cakes and sweet rolls were her specialty. Nobody could bake like Sista. She would put them out on the table, ask "you kids want something sweet?" and even the neighborhood kids would come running! Her door was always open to everyone. Her children remember having someone living with them as long as they could remember. They even remember picking up complete strangers off the freeway and squeezing in the station wagon to make room. The family moved to Sacramento, CA in 1980 when her husband received a job transfer to McClellan AFB. They lived in the North area for one year before moving to South Sacramento on Ontario Street where they would both remain and live out there years doing what they do best, serving others. Ellazeen was preceded in death by her husband Orick "Buddy" Mathews, Sr., her son Albert "Joe" Brandon, Jr., her granddaughters Destiny Young and Neeka Bowens, her brothers Reville Robinson, Luther Robinson, Hewitt "Dude" (& Toni) Robinson, Sr., and Arnell Robinson, her sisters Laura Robinson, Virteous (& Bernard) Rowden, and Marie Robinson, and her parents, Green and Samarie Robinson. She leaves behind to cherish her memories her sons Orick Mathews, Jr and Roy (& Colette) Mathews, her daughters Linda (& Marlon) Lee, Shirley (& Tim) Coyne, Ella (& Will) Lewis, Margaret Mathews, and Donzell (& Roy) Murphy, her brothers Nathanial (& Clara) Robinson and Arthur D. (& Debra) Robinson, and sisters MaeRie Grant, and Queenie Mae Robinson and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, additional family members and wonderful friends. Visitation: Friday, March 27, beginning at 1:30 at Thompson Rose Chapel, located at 3601 5th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95817. Home going Celebration: Saturday, March 28, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church located at 8011 Lemon Hill in Sacramento, CA. with Minister Brett Robinson officiating.