Obituary of Joanna Livingston Matthews

Joanna L. Matthews passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at Verra Springs in Greensboro, NC at the wonderful age of 94.  Joanna’s loving husband of 70 years, Cliff Matthews, had passed away 2 years previously.  She was relieved to finally join him.

                Joanna was born in Algood, TN the 4^th of 10 children raised by parents Mattie Bell Livingston and Harva Reece Livingston.  Jo grew up in Tennessee graduated from Algood High School and Peabody Jr, College in Nashville, TN.  She obtained her BS from Shorter College once she was married and moved to Rome, GA.

                 In the 1940’s, Joanna left Nashville and joined a very distinctive group of women workers who supported the war effort.  She became one of the women known as the “Girls of Atomic City”.  It was in Oak Ridge, TN that she met and married Cliff when he was assigned to a Special Engineering detachment to work on the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb) during WWII.  Clifford (Bud) Matthews III was born in Oak Ridge, TN.  Stuart Matthews and Janice Matthews were born in Pittsfield, MA where Joanna and Cliff had moved after WWII far a job with General Electric.  Cliff’s promotions with GE would take the family from Oak Ridge, TN to Pittsfield, MA, Rome, GA, Towson, MD, and finally Hickory , NC.

                As may who were raised during this era, my parents saved everything from box tops, to twist ties, used wrapping paper, coins, stamps, report cards, cards and letters, original receipts, you name it… we have found it over the years.  Joanna’s real passion was for collectible item: blown glass, pottery, figurines, dolls, and series plates – Joanna had them all.  She was also an accomplished seamstress and loved arts and crafts.  In addition, she left a wealth of information on genealogy of Livingstons and Matthews, which she travelled the southeast to collect (prior to the internet and computers).

Joanna left a legacy of properly educated English students (in Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina), appreciative nurses where she volunteered as a Gray Lady at Glenn R. Frye Memorial Hospital, faithful friends in the membership of First United Methodist Church of Hickory, NC where she attended services, taught Sunday School, and was a committed to work with the United Methodist Women’s Group.  One of her proudest moments was when she became a member of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).  She loved this group and held several offices in the Hickory, NC chapter.

                Jo left this world a better place due to her wit, humor, and love for her family.  Joanna is survived by her sibling: Leonard Livingston and Robert Livingston of Tennessee and Tommy Livingston of Georgia; her three children: Clifford (Bud) Matthews III and spouse Candy Matthews of Greensboro, NC, Stuart Matthews of Raleigh, NC, and Janice M. Eldredge of Charlotte, NC; her five grandchildren Clifford (Ford) Matthews IV  and Cindy Matthews, Baxter Matthews and spouse Amber Matthews, Maggie Matthews Grimes and spouse Cam Grimes, Zach Matthews and spouse Michele Matthews, and Reece Eldredge.  She was also blessed with seven great grandchildren: twins Harry and Hunter Matthews, Kaylee Matthews, twins Baxter and Lanier Matthews, Lucy Matthews, and Cooper Matthews.  Joanna left this life as she lived it…full of love, strong-willed, and committed to the very end.

                A Service and Celebration of Joanna Matthews will bw hwld at Abbotswood at Irving Park on July 14 at 1:30 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the NC Division of Services for the Blind in Raleigh, NC or Hospice and Palliative care organization of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405.  Lambeth-Troxler Funeral Home is assisting the Matthews Family.  The obituary and online condolences may be viewed at www.lambethtroxlerfuneralhome.com.