Verdie Marie Matthews

Verdie Marie Matthews, age 83, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Friday, May 05, 2006 in a local hospital. She was a member of Ridgeview Baptist Church. Before her retirement, she was employed with Bishop Baking Company for 30 years. Her "focus" was always on her family. She was the daughter of the late Philip and Callie Williams Jenkins. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Doyle Davenport, who was killed in action during WWII in 1942. Her second husband and father of her children, Kenneth Eugene Matthews, also preceded her in death. She is survived by three children and their spouses: Cathy and Jim Wilson of Beaumont, Texas, Dennis Matthews of Cleveland, and Gary and April Matthews also of Cleveland; eight grandchildren: Michael Matthews, Jennifer Matthews, Heather Matthews, Daniel Matthews, Samuel Matthews, Caroline Wilson, Suzanne Wilson and Drew Wilson; two sisters: Velma Randolph and Nola Strzlecki and husband John, all of Cleveland; two brothers: Lawrence Jenkins and wife Patsy of Cleveland, and Roy Jenkins of Pensacola, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Luther Eslinger officiating. Interment will follow in Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery with Scott Varnell, Joe Pirkle, Victor Pirkle, Earl Randolph, Dwight Jenkins and Ed Pirkle serving as pallbearers.