Mattie Sue Silver

      To Mattie Sue Silver, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Mattie, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Mattie really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       Her parents were Alva and Mattie Porterfield. Mattie was raised in Outside of Blacksburg. Even as a child, Mattie had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Mattie was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Mattie managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Mattie was raised with Ten siblings.

      All of Mattie's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Mattie experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. In her spare time she liked to sing. Mattie's memorable achievements included.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Mattie was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Mattie simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Mattie, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Mattie's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Mattie very easy to approach. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Mattie related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Mattie was blessed with 2 children, One son Cham and one daughter Barbara. They were also blessed with 2 grandchildren, Brittany and Stephen. Mattie had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Mattie's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Mattie had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      Mattie passed away on November 22, 2015 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Mo did not suffer long with cancer. She is survived by children Cham and Barbara; her grandchildren Brittany and Stephen; her living siblings brother Bobbie and sisters Ruth, Maryann and Joyce. Services were held at Soul Purpose Church.

      Mattie brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Mattie Sue Silver lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.