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Dottie Mae Matthews, 85, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Monday, May 30, 2022.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at First Christian Church with Minister Michael McCrickard officiating.  Interment will follow at Oak City Cemetery with her grandsons, Chad Matthews, Christopher Matthews, Cory Southall, Dustin Godwin, Danny Grubbs, and Jeff Cox serving as active pallbearers. The Men of First Christian Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 1:45-2:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at First Christian Church. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. Memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church, PO Box 907, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Dottie Mae Butler was born February 1, 1937, in Lanett, Ala., the daughter of Virgil & Ruthie Mae Gilley Butler. She married Charles B. Matthews II in 1958. Bainbridge has been Dot’s home for the past 60 years. She worked as a seamstress for Williamson-Dickies and Jack Winter and was a member of First Christian Church.

“Miss” Dot, as she was known to many, was extremely strong-willed and independent. She was faithful to the Lord and active in her church. Dot learned quickly, as a widow with young children, the importance of her faith and spent her life caring for her children. She taught them things like how to can vegetables and the Atlanta Braves was THE baseball team of the family. Grandchildren were like the icing on cake and brought her immeasurable joy. Proverbs 31:25-28 reads, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her.” Dot’s children testify she is the perfect definition of “mama”.

Survivors include her children, Gail Matthews Grubbs (Walter West), Chuck Matthews (Ginger), and Priscilla Matthews Southall (Donny) all of Bainbridge; her daughter-in-law, Robin Thomas; her siblings, Doreatha Sutterfield of Craig, Colo., and Stanley Frank Kiejko (Betty) of Orlando, Fla.; her grandchildren, Mark, Angel, Jamie, Jennifer & Chris, Christy & Jeff, Danny & Kayla, Chad & Jessica, Christopher, Cory & Hannah, and Amanda & Dustin; her twenty great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family. In addition to her parents, Dottie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles B. Matthews II; her son, David Mark Thomas; her son-in-law, Danny Ray Grubbs; her siblings, Vertie Mae Shears, Elaine Singleton, and Joe Butler; and her stepfather, Stanley Frank Kiejko.

The family extends sincere appreciation to Dr. Sydney Cochran for his compassionate care over the years.

Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)