Obituary of Florence Carroll Matthews

Mrs. Matthews was born Jan. 21, 1931, on Broad Street in Ozark to Maurine Peacock Carroll and Sam Jones Carroll Sr. Her maternal ancestors were early settlers of Coffee County, and her paternal ancestors came to Dale County from the Carolinas in the 1830s. She graduated from high school at Washington Seminary (now Westminster) a school for girls in Atlanta, Ga. She attended Huntingdon College and the University of Alabama and received a degree in education from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). While at the University of Alabama, she was initiated into the Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta and later affiliated with the Sigma Lambda Chapter at A.P.I. A steadfast member of the First United Methodist Church, Mrs. Matthews served as organist and pianist there for more than 50 years. Serving as a member of the music committee, she helped to plan the installation of the church''s treasured Wicks pipe organ. From the age of 15, she used her talents to play at weddings and funerals for hundreds of local families. She was a loyal supporter of Vivian B. Adams School, a school in Ozark for mentally handicapped persons, where she served on the Board of Directors for many years. Mrs. Matthews was an excellent cook, famous for her innovative and delicious recipes. Her chocolate layer cakes, which were raffled off at annual Rotary auctions, raised thousands of dollars to support Vivian B. Adams School and numerous other charities. Countless friends enjoyed her gifts of baked goods for birthdays or to raise spirits in times of sadness. Mrs. Matthews was a member of the Ozark Literary Club, a Rotary Club International Paul Harris Fellow and a founder on the Board of Directors of Flowers Center for the Performing Arts. She was an avid reader and a duplicate bridge enthusiast. She loved to spend time at the family''s cottage at Sunnyside Beach.Mrs. Matthews, a devoted wife and mother, was pre-deceased by her husband of 47 years, Judge William B. Matthews Sr. Service Information