Theresa Bernice Carter Mathews (1937 – 2021)
Bernice Mathews, surrounded by family, passed away at her home in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on
Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at the age of 83.
Bernice is survived by her husband of 66 years, Bobby Morrell Mathews; four children, Kelvin Mathews, Lynise
Chapin-Whatley, Anita Johnson, and LeAnne Mathews-York; one brother Garland Cook; grandchildren, Larissa Mathews, Carmen Chapin, Jessica Chapin-Reep, Daniel Johnson, Lindsey Johnson, Lauren York-Hoda, Miller-Elizabeth York; 10 great grandchildren; one great, great grandson; as well as several nieces and
nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Wanda Jean Hebert.
Theresa Bernice Carter was born on August 31, 1937 in Bryceland, Louisiana to Myrtle Pearline Lawson
(Kilpatrick) and Thomas Walter (Jack) Carter. She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1955 and on
May 24th of the same year, Bernice married Bobby Mathews, the love of her life. She dedicated the next
66 years of her life to serving her Lord Jesus and her family. Although she was primarily a wife,
homemaker, and mother to four children, Bernice also served her community and church. Bernice was a
devout Christian and an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She was a Sunday school teacher,
sang in the church choir, chaperoned and participated in many youth mission trips, and later in her life,
after her children were grown, she also traveled to Mexico with her spouse to serve, witness, and share
the word of Christ with the poor and underprivileged. Bernice was an artist and had a very creative
mind. Oil paintings, ceramics, and macrame were just a few of her talents.
A visitation will be held at 10:00am on Monday, June 7, 2021 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A service will follow at 11:00am. A graveside service will be at 4:00pm at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Ringgold, Louisiana. Reverend Billy Brumfield will be officiating.
Pallbearers are Daniel Johnson, Tommy Dotson, Charles Whatley, Jay Hynum, Brandon Marshall, and Rick Reep. Honorary Pallbearers include Garland Cook, David Thames, David Cochran, Greg Mitchell, Jerry Smith, Vernon Martin, Calvin Ashley, and Don McAuley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s
Cancer Center and Research Institute, Children’s of Mississippi (Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital), or St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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