IRENE MATTHEWS

IRENE MATTHEWS, a resident of the Hickory Withe Community, longtime resident of Fayette County and wife of David Wilson died at 3:35 P.M. Friday, May 15, 2009 at her residence on Ivy Drive. She was 56 years of age and died following a five-month illness.

Funeral services for Ms. Matthews were conducted at 2 P.M. Sunday, May 17th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with her niece, Pearl Shuit, Youth Pastor of the River of Life Assembly of God Church at Munford, officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Ms. Matthews was born November 1, 1952 in Oakland. She was preceded in death by her parents, Perry Matthews and Mattie Mae Henley Matthews. She received her education in the Fayette County Public School System and was a lifelong resident of the Oakland, Eads and Hickory Withe areas.

She assisted her family in farming as a young person and was a homemaker throughout her life. Ms. Matthews was of the Baptist faith and will be remembered for her love of flower and vegetable gardening. She enjoyed nature and pets with a special fondness for her pet cat, "Bear".

A "people-person" who enjoyed life and family gatherings, Ms. Matthews was a devoted companion to David Wilson for seventeen years.

She also leaves three sisters: Lula Bolden, Joanne Matthews and Dessie Johnson, all of Somerville; her brother, Perry Matthews of Somerville and a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Robert Sanders, Gregory Carpenter, Joseph Pilkington, Steve Hall, Brady Sanders and Wayne Connell.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the church, charity or organization of the donor's choice.