Lydia Ruth Matthews

Lydia Ruth Matthews, 92, of Laurel, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at her daughter’s residence in Ellisville. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 24 at Memory Chapel, with interment to follow at Matthew Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday and again at 12 noon Friday, at Memory Chapel. Rev. Ramsey Coutta and Rev. Caleb Rawls will officiate. Lydia, who retired as director of YWCA, lived life as a godly example to her children, her church, her friends, and with all she came in contact. She expressed the joy of knowing Christ through a life full of service to others. She was very active in her church, school, and community and served in volunteer service and political committees. She was always considerate of others and always giving, loved her children, and worked hard to educate them. She was affectionately known as “Mammaw” to her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. Great is your reward in Heaven! She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde W. Gavin and Candace Moss Gavin; brothers, Alman, Julius, Charles “Tank”, and Wendell Gavin; grandson, William Slade Russell; great granddaughter, Faith Elizabeth Walters; and husbands, Odell Ulmer and Benton H. Matthews. Survivors include her son, Ray Myrick (Amy) of Laurel; daughters, Phyllis Beyer (Larry) of Missouri City, Texas, Mary Ann Bryant (Rev. Eddie) of Ellisville, and Helen Lyons (Joe) of Ocean Springs; 10 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; brothers, James Carlon Gavin of New Britton, Connecticut, Bobby Gavin of Natchez, and Marvin Gavin of Laurel; and one sister, Willie Clyde Moore of Laurel. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Gavin, Bruce Gavin, Bart Gavin, Greg Gavin, Andrew Gore, and Michael Lewis. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Gavin, Joe Mauldin’s Sunday School Class at Pleasant Home Baptist Church and the Deacons of Pleasant Home Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Pleasant Home Baptist Church Building Fund, 386 Matthews Road, Laurel, MS 39443. The family would like to express their grateful appreciation to the hospice personnel at Compassus and to her caregivers. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Lydia Ruth Matthews

May 24, 1924 - March 22, 2017