Jennie Mathews

Jennie Scott Mathews, Oak Hill, retired school teacher, died Saturday, May 10, 2003 at Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, after a short illness. She had recently celebrated her 94th birthday. Born January 11, 1909 at Scarbro, WV she was the daughter of the late William J. and Nona Smith Scott. Mrs. Mathews spent her childhood and teenage years in Red Star, WV. After graduating from Oak Hill High School in 1927, she immediately began teaching school. Her 35 year career began in a little red one-room school in Naomi (Fayette County) where she taught primary through sxith grades. She had fond rememberances of riding the train from Thurmond to the country home of the family with whom she boarded. Her teaching years continued at Chestnut Knob (above Layland), Laurel Creek (between Quinnimont and Layland), Claremont (above Thurmond) and at Thurmond, but her fondest memories were of her many years at Lochgelly and Rosedale Elementary Schools. Mrs. Mathews attended Concord College, Marshall College and New River State College (now WVU Institute of Technology). She enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and cryptoquotes, playing bingo and watching soap operas. She loved talking about her many years of teaching and about her former students - but her family is what she loved most. Honesty and integrity were her virtues. Reading the Bible was a daily part of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Ronald Mathews on February 17, 1955; sisters, Nell Frazier and Iva Stanley and brothers, Hobart, J.B. and Kenneth Scott SURVIVORS: Daughters: Barbara Nichols and husband, Don of Oak Hill Nancy Harding and husband, Larry, Oak Hill Sons: William R. Mathews and wife, Diane of Gatewood James L. Mathews and wife, Lil of Gatewood Sister: Kathryn June Kelly of Martinsburg, WV Sisters-in-law: Ruth Clark and June Vernagus of Sanford, FL 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild Visitation will be at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm Services will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at 11:00 A.M. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill with Rev. Bill Menefee officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, WV In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Oak Hill Public Library, 611 Main Street West, Oak Hill, WV 25901