Funeral services for Mrs. Donnis Brent Matthews will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the Oddfellows Cemetery in Starkville. Visitation will also be held at First Baptist Church on Saturday from 1:00-3:00 pm prior to the funeral.

Mrs. Matthews died Wednesday, April 19, 2017. She was 82. She received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Southern Mississippi and her Masters and Educational Specialist degree from Mississippi State University.

Mrs. Matthews taught elementary education for over 25 years, prior to her retirement in 2001. While in Starkville, she was a charter member and officer in the Starkville Professional Educators Association and was once selected as “Teacher of the Year.” She served alongside her husband at various churches and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for more than 40 years. Her calling and passion was to teach and to serve.

She was preceded by her loving husband of 51 years, Reverend Wilburn Matthews and her older brother, Floyd Brent, Jr. She is survived by her three children, Dr. Mark Matthews of Tupelo, Suzy Heflin of Rapid City, SD and Paul Matthews of Augusta, GA; twelve grandchildren; three brothers, Kenneth Brent of Greenville, MS, Cecil Brent of Hattiesburg, MS, John Ed Brent of Meridian, MS; two sisters, Annette Smith of Starkville and Dale Granger of Wesson, MS.

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Starkville, MS, with the funeral service immediately following. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to:

First Baptist Church Children’s Building Fund
106 E Lampkin
Starkville, MS 39759