PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Funeral services for Gerald Matthews Sr., 73, of Philadelphia, Pa., who died March 17, 2008, at University of Philadelphia Hospital, were Tuesday, March 25, at Slater Funeral Home, in Philadelphia, with the Rev. John Coger officiating.
Burial followed at Mount Pearce Cemetery under the direction of Slater Funeral Home.
Mr. Matthews was born Feb. 14, 1935, in Natchez, the son of Bennie Matthews and Ethel Pointdexter Sewell. He attended Robinson Bottom School and was the owner of Gerald and Otis Body Shop. He was retired from Pipe Motor Company.
Mr. Matthews was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Shelby Sewell and Walter Sewell; godparents Otis and Virginia Lucas; daughter-in-law Bootsie Matthews; sister-in-law Jessie Lee Sewell.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby; sons Gerald Matthews Jr. and wife, Diane, of Aberdeen, Md., and Bennie Matthews, of Lincoln, Del.; daughter Kim Matthews, of Philadelphia; eight nieces, Gloria Taylor and husband David, Shirley Matthews and husband James, Christine Johnson, Sandra Sewell, Renne Carr and husband Ray, Gisele Green and husband, Michael and Dianne Fleming, all of Natchez, and Constance Lopez, of Memphis, Tenn.; six nephews, Walter Sewell, of Natchez, Larry Sewell, Eric Sewell and Efrem Sewell and wife Rhonda, all of Houston, Michael Sewell and wife Gloria, of Memphis, and Robert Byrd, of Nashville, Tenn.; five cousins, Freddie Woodfork and wife Inez, Herman Jean Earl, of Natchez, Bill Reed, of Baton Rouge, Shirley Lloyd, of Laverock, Pa., and Kayte Dukes and husband Charlie, of Natchez; two sisters-in-law, Christine Sewell and Jurlean Sewell, of Natchez; former wife Ella M. Matthews, of Philadelphia; best friends Hezekiah Early and wife Dorothy, of Natchez, Fred Ross, Luther Banks and Mack Otis Barnes, of Philadelphia and godbrothers Walter and Andrew Lucas, of Natchez.
Pallbearers were members of the family.