Virginia Gayle Mattheiss, age 81, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, August 5, 2018. She was born on January 12, 1937 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to A.B. and Iva Herchenhahn and was one of ten children. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Gayle’s number one priority and love was her family. Everyone she met heard about her children and grandchildren and knew she loved them deeply and unconditionally. Gayle’s second love was for her church family. She never missed an opportunity to be in church. Gayle had an unwavering faith that was like none other. She continued to witness to everyone she met up until her last day on this Earth.
Gayle is preceded in death by her parents, A.B. and Iva Herchenhahn; her brothers, Allen Herchenhahn and Fred Herchenhahn; and her sisters, Lucille Jones and Imogene Brunson.
Gayle is survived by her loving husband, Jerry Mattheiss and her daughters, Wendy Mattheiss and Stacy Mattheiss. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Alycia Marie Winegardner; Kaitlin Hopkins and her husband, Jordan Hopkins; Brooke Taylor and her husband, William Taylor; and Bailey Holland; and great-grandchildren, Jacob Gebhardt, Beckham Hopkins, Kallie Taylor, and twin girls due January 1, 2019. Additionally, she is survived by her sisters, Louise Bates, Wilma Jones, Dawn Gundersen, and Judy Ray; and her brother, Dr. J.D. Herchenhahn.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Westport Baptist Church Denver, NC. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM.
Rev. Steve Owenby, Pastor of Westport Baptist Church, Dr. J.D. Herchenhahn and Rev. Mike Young will officiate
In lieu of flowers for the family, please send donations to Westport Baptist Church and designate the “He Is Worthy” fund in honor of Gayle Mattheiss.
The Good Samaritan Funeral Home is serving the Mattheiss Family
I will be praying for you all. I love y’all! What a sweetheart of a lady!
So loved sweet “Aunt Gayle.” HEAVEN IS SWEETER!
Our hearts are broken. We loved Aunt Gayle dearly and will miss seeing her here on this earth….but one day!!
We will see her smiling face again. I know there was a happy reunion in Heaven last Saturday…when they all got together again. Wish we could be there for the service just know our hearts are with all of you at this time. “In the sweet by and by…..”
Love to all….Jan, Tony and family
Heaven hs gained some great ladies. I’m sure my Mama( Hilda, who entered last month,) and my Daddy, Alton, were waiting to great Miss Gail!
Miss Gail was such a sweetheart and always had that big smile. Her brother surely loved her as he spoke to me about her last month. What a great family. Loved it when as many as the “kids” could come to Grace and would sing.
Prayers forMr. Matheiss, Wendy, and Stacy, as well as other family members. It hurts! Christ will carry you through. That and singing! Sing her favorite songs!
Love, (Rebel) Lynn Malpass
The entire congregation joins with me in extending to you our heartfelt sympathy in the home-going of Gayle. We love you and are thankful for the years that you invested in our ministry with Dr. Bradley Price and with me. May God bless you during these difficult and different days allowing you to show His grace to others through your loss.
Dr. Bruce Barton
Central Baptist Church
Panama City, FL
Jerry, Stacy, Wendy, and all of the family. May it be of some small comfort to each of you to know that so many others care about your loss, temporary though it is, and that we are praying for God to comfort you each as only He can. May God be so very close and real to you and may you take comfort in the reality that there is a coming reunion with your loved one and with Him who loved and died for us. Our hearts are heavy for the sorrow of separation, but uplifted with the knowledge of the joy Mrs. Gayle is now experiencing with our Lord. God bless you each.
The Dillards, Stan and Bessie
Jerry, Wendy, Stacy and family – We are so sorry to hear of Gail’s passing. Words are never just the right thing or even enough when you are suffering the lose of a loved one. Cherish her memories.
Dear Pastor Jerry and family,
Oh how our hearts were saddened when Betty Robinson called to tell us of sweet Gayle’s
homegoing! We will miss her so much when we return to WBC in the fall! I loved her
dearly! She was precious to me! I rejoice for her that her suffering is over and she is in
the presence of our Savior! I know I will see her again some glorious day!
Our deepest sympathy, love and prayers are with you now and in the coming days!
Earl and Cindy Felix
We are so sorry for your lost, Pastor. We love you so very much. We are praying for you.
Love, Tommy and Carol
Bro. Jerry, Wendy & Stacey, We are so sorry to hear of Gayle’s death. We are thankful she is not sick anymore, but we know you will miss her greatly. We are praying for you. Love you all.
Jerry and Family,
I can’t imagine the loss you feel. May God’s love and presence comfort you and may His promises sustain you. We love you and are praying for you.
Jon and Carolyn De Rusha
Jerry , Wendy, Stacy and your family—I was so sorry to learn of Gayle’s passing. What a sweet , precious lady she was. –I haven’t seen Gayle in many years, but I haven’t, nor will I ever forget her. That sweet,ready smile and that little laugh/giggle when she said or heard something funny or cute. –She will certainly be missed , but I’m so glad she has left a loving family ( and friends ) here to take care of and comfort each other. It’s such a blessing to have a loving family to be with you when times are so hard and painful. -God bless all of you as I know He always will. Love, Carol
Dear Pastor Jerry and family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy as you lay your precious wife, mom and grandmother to rest.
She will be missed most by you all of course but also by so many others who loved her!
Westport will not be the same without her radiant smile!
Love and prayers,
Jim and Nancy Stewart
My heart is with all of you during these days… Jerry, Wendy, and Stacy, and all the family… The Price clan will be forever your ‘family’… Gayle was such a dear and precious friend who lived out her faith and love in God. She is leaving us all a great legacy!!! All my live and prayers, Madell
My heartfelt condolences to Jerry and all the Mattheiss family. I remember Jerry well from my Tennessee Temple days. Agape. Psalm 116:15.
So sorry for your loss, heaven is definitely a sweeter place! Loved hearing her sing and enjoyed for infectious sweet spirit and heartwarming smile. Praying for the family.
Re-read all the above comments about my Gayle. She was a very unusual lady! Loved the Lord. Loved me and our family. Very quiet lady but her quietness explained her sternness when it came to the Lord and His church. She absolutely loved her family. Am so disappointed she won’t be here to see the new TWINS born to Will and Brooke, our grand daughter the end of this year. She was so looking forward to that special occasion. I kidded her so often that a church called her and I just came along for the ride. She had so many friends and loved ones in her life. We were approaching 61 years of marriage and what a wonderful time she allowed me to share with her.