Lillian Gilbert Matthews

Lillian Gilbert Matthews, of Davidson, North Carolina, died on May 14, 2012. Lil was born in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, on January 4, 1933. Her family had few material possessions during the Depression, and in her early years she learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and developed a deep appreciation for nature. She spent several years at The Crossnore School, a nurturing community that offers educational and other opportunities for disadvantaged mountain youth. Her Crossnore experience molded her in so many ways, and she was always grateful for the loving, caring support offered by that community during the period when she lived at Crossnore. Following her graduation from Crossnore, she attended Presbyterian School of Nursing and worked as a nurse at Presbyterian Hospital, and thereafter at North Carolina National Bank. She later married Dr. William C. Matthews, a Charlotte physician. Following his retirement, they lived in Chester, South Carolina, and together they enjoyed gardening, beekeeping, raising cattle and spending time with children and grandchildren.

Lil’s nurturing spirit enriched all those persons and things around her. She had an uncanny ability to make plants thrive. Her gentle, caring love nurtured close friends and family, as well. Her beloved husband, Bill, found new life in their loving relationship. Her daughter, Bill’s children and their grandchildren were shaped by her gentle, nurturing love.

Lil is survived by her brothers, Sterlyn Washburn and Pete Washburn; by her daughter, Debbie Schraer; by Bill’s children from a prior marriage (Susan; Bill, Jr.; John and Mary), whom she loved as if they were her own, and by eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 2, at 2:00 p.m. at The Little Church on the Lane, 522 Moravian Lane, Charlotte, NC 28207. The family will greet friends at Harry and Bryant Company, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC, from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts should be directed to The Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, NC 28616.