Billie White Matthews

February 7, 2016

Billie White Matthews, 82, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Sunday, February 7, 2016.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Morningside Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Dean and Rev. Carl Harrell officiating. A private interment will follow at Bethany Cemetery with Jay Wells, Jamie Ard, Dan Bryant, Brandon Conley, Ashley Gardner, and Steve Dunn serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at

www.iveyfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to Morningside Baptist Church Youth, P. O. Box 7009, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Billie Louise White was born December 10, 1933 in Bainbridge, the daughter of Paul Wilson White, Sr. and Mattie Lou Moore White. Billie lived her entire life in Decatur County. She was a graduate of Faceville High School. Billie married James Willis Matthews June 11, 1971.

Billie was an active member of Morningside Baptist Church. She loved children, especially her grandchildren, and made sure each one felt special. When not spending time with her family, she enjoyed reading, sewing, and the challenge of word search puzzles.

Survivors include her husband, James W. Matthews; her children, Allan Gilbourn, Tim Matthews and his wife, Allyson, Susan Thomas and her husband, Lee; her grandchildren, James Gilbourn, Jr., Kale, Cooper, and London Thomas, Sara and Hunter Matthews, Will and Lyza Key; her great-grandchild, Brittany Gilbourn; and her siblings, Edmund White, Donald White, Paul White and Nadine Smith.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, D.A. Gilbourn; her son, James Gilbourn, Sr.; and her brothers, Ned White and Allan White.