Birth Date: 04/03/1928
Deceased Date: 06/14/2017
Coats, NC: Mrs. Frances Conolia Bowden Matthews of Coats died Wednesday morning, June 14, 2017, at Harnett Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. One of eleven children, she was born April 3, 1928 in Harnett County to the late Keet Nazareth and Loney Mae Wiggins Bowden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Billie Colon Matthews,and by siblings: Thurman, Mary, Gladys, Roger, Herman, and Billy Ray. Mrs. Matthews was a seamstress for Block Industries for over twenty-five years and was a devoted member of Coats United Methodist Church. Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She especially loved cooking for her family on special occasions and almost every Sunday. She was a true southern lady who extended her love, kindness, and generosity to all those around her.
She is survived by her son, Billy Lavon Matthews and wife, Joyce and her daughter, Patsy Peterson and husband, Louis. Frances is survived by her grandchildren; Melissa Matthews Alphin (Corey), Greg Peterson (Angie), and Rodney Peterson (Tonya), and great-grandchildren; Landon Alphin, Rhett Alphin, James Peterson, Eva Cate Peterson, Emma Ruth Peterson, Adalen Peterson, Grayson Caudle (Corrine), Ashlyn Caudle, and great-great grandchildren; Christian and Aiden. She is also survived by one brother, James Bowden and wife, Pearlie of Sanford, and three sisters: Mildred Lockamy of Sanford, Judy Graham of Sanford, and Peggy Stone of Tennessee, as well as many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be 11AM Friday, June 16, 2017 at Coats United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Rick Wilkerson. Burial will follow in Lakeside Memorial Gardens, Angier. The visitation will be at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Coats the evening before from 6 to 8. In addition to visitation at the funeral home, the family will receive friends at the home of Patsy and Louis Peterson at 359 Hobson Road in Dunn.
Flowers are welcome, as well as donations to her church, Coats United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 388, Coats, NC 27521 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 3739 National Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.roseandgraham.com
