Clara Viola Giddens Matthews, 81, of Tifton passed away Monday, August 29, 2005, at Tift Health Care. Her funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 1, 2055, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton's First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe, the Rev. Paul Thomas and the Rev. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III officiating. Mrs. Matthews was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Ray Bowen, Calvin Rewis, Duane Melton, Buddy Giddens, Eric Giddens, Buddy DeLoach, Troy Barber and Charlie Giddens served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were member of the Pine Garden Club in Tifton and members of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Born November 14, 1923, in Perry, Florida, Mrs. Matthews was the daughter of the late Thomas Calhoun Giddens and Lola Barfield Giddens. Before retiring, she worked as a bookkeeper; and she was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church. She was a charter member of the Pine Garden Club in Tifton; and she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She had lived in Tifton for 80 years.
Mrs. Matthews is survived by her husband of 64 years, Fred A. Matthews of Tifton' one son and daughter-in-law, F. Wayne and Sandra Matthews of Tifton; two grandsons and their wives, Dan and Julie Matthews and Craig and Joy Matthews; and five great-grandchildren, Jared Matthewds, Zach Matthews, Tucker Matthews, Samantha Matthews and Grant Matthews.