Alma Jean Matthews, age 77, of Clinton, Mississippi, passed away at her home Tuesday, August 22, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jean was born at her parent's home in Sunflower County on January 24, 1940. Both of her parents, L. D. and Mary Gibson, are deceased. She is survived by her son, Gregory Gibson Matthews; daughter-in-law Pamela Kent Matthews; granddaughter Mollie Ann Matthews; sister Lynda Gibson Westcott of Bend, Oregon; nephew Jeremy Heath Westcott, his wife Salley, and their children Garth and Grace, of San Clemente, CA; her maternal aunt, Irene Kelly of Greenville; and former husband Roy Byron Matthews, Tylertown, MS. She leaves behind a community of treasured friends.
Jean graduated from Moorhead High School in 1957, and then learned her lifetime secretarial skills at Draughon's Business College in Jackson. Those skills opened the door to her first job at Greenville Air Force Base. The family moved to Clinton in 1969, and over the following years she became part of the growing community. She was secretary to the principal and bookkeeper, at Clinton Junior High School, beginning with the 1977-78 school year. She resigned July 4, 1994 due to her mother's failing health. Before her final retirement she worked for the State Board of Education.
Jean had many friends and led an active social and volunteer life: She was an active member of the Writing Ministry at First Baptist Church Clinton; a member of the Clinton Association of Retired Educators; secretary and treasurer for the Jackson Knife and Fork Club; four years president for the Friends of the Library and actively involved in their Christmas Tree Committee; served as an ambassador for Splendors of Versailles Exhibit in Jackson; a member of First Baptist Church Clinton; a member of multiple bridge clubs (LeMeilleur Bridge Club, LeMercredi Bridge Club, Clinton Duplicate Bridge Club, Crazy Bridge Club, and C.A.R.E. Bridge); and a happy member of the Happy Gardner's Club.
Jean loved her flowers and her yard reflects her whimsical style of gardening. She carried that whimsical style indoors too. One friend referred to Jean's house as "the happy house" because of her cacophony of cheery colors, and an indoor Christmas tree kept year round in her living room, decorated not only for each holiday but obscure occasions like "the hot long dog days of summer."
Jean was well traveled. Her accomplished bucket list trips included Peru, China, England, Egypt, Israel, France, Italy, Mexico, Jordan, Canada, Hong Kong, and Spain.
Jean Matthews, a friend, mother, sister, nana, and aunt will be missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to Clinton Friends of the Library (605 E. Northside Drive, Clinton, MS 39056)
Visitation: 5:00-7:00p.m., August 25, Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home Clinton.
Services: 10:30 a.m., August 26, First Baptist Church Clinton. Followed by interment: 2:30p.m. Moorhead Cemetery.