Sept. 7, 1937 – Aug. 27, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Murdies E. “Mo” Matthews, 78, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, at Gentivia Hospice Care of Columbus, Ga., will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Wilderness Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Strickland officiating. 

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Matthews was born Sept. 7, 1937, in Natchez, the daughter of Dewey Bailey Sr. and Alice Bailey.

She attended Natchez public schools, Natchez College and was a 1966 graduate of Alcorn State University. She was an educator for 25 years in Louisiana and Mississippi. She was retired.

Mrs. Matthews was a longtime member of Wilderness Missionary Baptist Church and was actively involved with the National Association of Negro Women.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Matthews Sr. and two brothers, Dewey Bailey Jr. and Otis “Tad” Bailey.

Survivors include five children, Jacqueline Bailey, Jeffrey Matthews Sr. and wife, Bettina, Jennifer Matthews, Johann Matthews and Jasper Matthews Sr. and wife, Keisha; one brother, George Bailey; one sister, Emma Johnson and husband, Vertie; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one niece; two nephews; and a number of other relatives, neighbors and friends.