COATOPA — Lewis Matthews Jr., 99, of Sumter 22 in Coatopa, died July 10, 2008 at Rush Medical Center in Meridian. Funeral Services were held at noon on Friday, July 18, 2008 at the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Coatopa. The Rev. Albert Murdock Jr. officiated. Sis. Ernestine Whitley served as mistress of order. Interment followed in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Coatopa. Larkin & Scott Funeral Directors of Demopolis were in charge of arrangements.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Emma Matthews; four children, Richard Matthews, Loretta Mills, Carolee Ruffin and Repolian Matthews; and two siblings, Fred Matthews and Jeff Matthews.
Survivors include a loving and devoted wife, Mrs. Georgia Campbell Matthews, of Coatopa; four loving children, Marcella Cook and her husband, Hayes, of Warrenville Heights, Ohio, Rebecca Strom and husband, Otis, of Dorchester, Mass., Joe Nathan Matthews and his wife, Shirley, of Detroit, Mich., and Curtis Matthews and his wife, Merendy, of Coatopa; four sisters, Luella Maye of Meridian, Miss., Lucille Campbell of Livingston, Alice Lee of Coatopa, and Elnora Rice of Coatopa; five brothers, Joe Nathan Matthews of Coatopa, James Matthews and his wife, Hattie, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Isiah Matthews and his wife, Mable, of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Chaney Matthews and Johnnie Matthews of Coatopa; 18 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.