Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lonnie Mathews

Nov. 25, 1916 - July 21, 2001

South Bend Tribune 7/23/2001

Mrs. Lonnie Mathews, 84, of East Monroe Street, South Bend, Indiana, departed this life in Cardinal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 8:28 a.m., Saturday, July 21, 2001, after suffering from a long illness. On November 25, 1916, in Crenshaw, Mississippi, she was born to the union of the late Joe and Lydia (Corretta) Mitchell. Coming from Memphis, Tennessee, she had resided in South Bend since 1947. In South Bend, she and A.B. Mathews were married. He preceded her in death on September 17, 1988. She was a retired employee of Meridian Nursing Home after 17 years of service and was also a charter member of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Mathews is survived by two stepdaughters, Deloris Mathews-Davenport of St. Louis, Missouri and Mayola Jones of Lexington, Arkansas; nine grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Jear-Lean Ligon of South Bend and Bertha Lee Williams of Cairo, Illinois, and other relatives. Preceding her in death was a sister, Josephine Jones; and two brothers, Maurice Mitchell and M.L. Mitchell.

Services will be held at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, where friends may call at noon. Pastor Henry L. Giden will officiate. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery. Alford's Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.