Cleo Williams Matthews
September 5, 1923 – January 2, 2918
ROCKY MOUNT – Cleo Williams Matthews, age 94, passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Born in Edgecombe County, NC on September 5, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Charles Thomas Williams, Sr. and Lucille Taylor Williams. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Williams Cecil Matthews; son, Charles David Ellis; daughter, Audrey Ellis Edmundson; son-in-law, Rusty Edmundson; brothers, C.T., J.D., Phillip, Glenn, Milton, and Aaron Williams; sisters, Margaret William Ellis, Shirley Williams Proctor, and Rachel Williams; sisters-in-law, Margaret and Louise Williams; and brother-in-law, Ed Ellis.
Cleo was a member of First Baptist Church for over 50 years. She worked in the Lease Accounting Department at Hardee’s Foods Systems for 23 years. A devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great great-grandmother and friend, Cleo will be dearly missed and will never be forgotten.
Cleo leaves behind to cherish her memory, three grandsons, Jason Charles Taylor and wife, Allison, Jeremy William Taylor and wife, Lisa, and Dee Edmundson and wife, Michelle; one granddaughter, Angela Ellis Denton; seven great-grandchildren, Chase, Ella, Emma, and Andrew Taylor, Brandon and Cierra Hodges, and Kendall Denton; and two great great-grandsons, Bryson and Liam. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Ellis and husband, Bobby; and brothers, Don Williams and wife, Jenelle, and Oliver Williams and wife, Julia; sisters-in-law, Peggy Calhoun Williams, Patsy Edwards Williams, and Susie Kall; brother-in-law, James Proctor.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Rev. Larry Curtis officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 200 S. Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting