Nancy Ramsey Matthews

FRANKLIN, TN - Nancy “Wootsie” Ramsey Matthews, 92, of Columbia, SC, died at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Franklin, Tennessee, Friday evening July 1, 2011. She was the seventh of twelve children born to Nancy Dansby Free Wilson and David McLeod Wilson. Nancy was born in Fairfield County (where her Free family ancestors settled in 1746) on January 28, 1919, and came by horse and buggy to the family’s newly purchased farm at 1300 Bush River Road in 1920. She graduated with honors from Irmo High School (1935) where she was captain of the girls’ basketball team. She graduated from Columbia Business College and had a career in finance.

Nancy was married to Samuel Loy Ramsey from Sept. 7, 1946 until his death May 16, 1977. She then married Columbia CPA Martin Luther Matthews, Jr., who died March 1, 1984.

Survivors include her daughter, Janet Ramsey Schmidt; her son-in-law, David Frederick Schmidt; her sister, Lessie Lentz and husband, Luther Lentz; Russell Lentz; Ann Lucas Baker; Laurie, Rock, Chris, and Katie Goodale; David and Tracy Gentry; the Rev. Richard and Carla Lineberger; Ted and Betty Lineberger; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072, (803) 359-6118.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Carl Voges and the Rev. Richard Wilson Lineberger, Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 119 North Church Street, Lexington, SC 29072, (803) 359-6562. Interment will be held in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens, 2603 Two Notch Road, Columbia 29204. Memorial donations may be made to the Newberry College School of Music, 2100 College Street, Newberry, SC 29108, (800) 845-4955.