Idelle M Mathews Obituary (1915 - 2017)

Service: 1:30 o'clock, Saturday, May 20, 2017 Place: Lithonia Chapel of Henry Funeral Home Visitation: 12:30 - 1:30 prior to the service Place: Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia Idelle McMillan was born September 6, 1915 in the home of Archibald R. and Minnie Ola Rentz McMillan, on the bank of the Alapaha River in Echols County, (officially Statenville) Georgia. Her family later moved to Lenox, in Colquitt County. Idelle's family moved to Tampa, Florida around 1924 where she graduated from Hillsborough High school in 1935 and the University of Tampa in 1939. She soon began her teaching career in Hillsborough County which lasted for 40 years, most of those years at Memorial Junior High. In 1940 Idelle married a local businessman, Wilson Floyd Mathews, Sr. He was her beloved husband until his death in 1987. Idelle was a very creative person. She used her many skills in the class room to help her students learn English, World, US and Florida history. She was an avid craft maker. She arranged flowers, was a prolific seamstress, making many of her's and her daughter's clothes, a very talented cook, and her knitting, crocheting, and quilt making was superb. The most unique quilt, a full size, was her own idea made from Lynda's and Wilson's old blue jeans, complete with pockets, zippers, belts and hand tied with red bows. In her spare time Idelle read one or two books a month, enjoyed watching her favorite sports teams, Florida Gators, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Rays and daily TV game shows. Most important to Idelle was her Christian faith. She was a member of First Baptist of Chiefland where in years past she taught a women's Bible class. When in Georgia she attended First Baptist of Lithonia. Her deep faith strengthened and comforted her and her family. She was an example of Christian Love and caring. Idelle was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson Floyd Mathews, Sr.; parents, Archibald and Minnie Ola McMillan; sister Velma McMillan Dupree; and grandson, Stephen. Surviving are her daughter, Lynda Mathews Long (Guy); son, Wilson, Jr. (Judy Hammond Mathews); granddaughters Michelle Vigil, Krista Mathews Kunkle (Jim); grandson Charles Mathews (Debbie); great granddaughters Deborah Fidler, Emma, Molly and Jamie Kunkle; great grandsons Preston and Archer; niece, Susan Parlier(Vernon); and nephew Jerry Dupree (Bonnie). A funeral service will be held 1:30 Saturday, May 20, 2017 in the Lithonia Chapel of Henry Funeral Home, with Dr. Jim Martin officiating. The family will receive friends 12:30 to 1:30 prior to the service. A graveside and burial service will be held 2 o'clock Monday, May 22 at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park and Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610. In lieu of flowers Idelle requested donations be made to the Missions programs at First Baptist Church of Chiefland, 511 N. Young Blvd., Chiefland, Florida 32626 or First Baptist Church of Lithonia, P. O. Box 378, Lithonia, Georgia 30058.