Cecile Matthews \ Edwards

Services for Cecile Matthews Edwards, 85, of Tyler were held Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, at Lufkin's First Baptist Church Chapel, with the Rev. David Luckert officiating. Interment followed in the Gann Cemetery under the direction of Gipson Funeral Home.

She was born at Oak Ridge, Nacogdoches County, on March 13, 1923, to Floyd Matthews and Emily Griffith Matthews. She died on Tuesday, Nov.11, in Tyler.

She grew up in Nacogdoches County. She attended schools at Cedar Bluff, Appleby and Nacogdoches. She moved to Lufkin in November 1945, where she resided until June 1999.

She worked in Lufkin for B. F. Goodrich Tire Co. from 1953 to 1962 and for the U. S. Forest Service from 1962 until her retirement in 1983.

She was a faithful member of Lufkin's First Baptist Church for more than 40 years where she sang in the church choir, was the sponsor for the Youth Choir and the Boys Choir, directed music for a children's Sunday School department, and was active in the Senior Adult Ministries. In more recent years she became a member of First United Methodist Church, Chandler, Texas, where her daughter is a staff musician.

She was predeceased by her parents; one sister, Mildred White of Nacogdoches; two brothers, Floyd Matthews of Crosby and Arnold Matthews of Huntsville.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Barbara Edwards of Pearland; daughter and son-in-law, Patti and Bobby Long of Tyler; four granddaughters, Heather Edwards and Kathy Edwards of Pasadena, Sinclaire Estes and Mackim Estes of Austin; two sisters, Ellen Lightfoot of Lufkin and Nola Mae Reneau of Livingston; sister-in-law, Sue Matthews of Crosby.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler TX 75701; or to First United Methodist Church Building Fund or Music Ministry, P. 0. Box 69, Chandler TX 75758.