Ms. Addie Louise Sanders Matthews

Addie Louise Sanders Matthews...Our Loving and Caring Beautiful Loved One…

Addie was affectionately known as “Aunt Addie, the Matriarch”, “Addie Lou” and “Add” to many of us.   She was born to a loving couple, her parents, Bishop Russell L. Sanders and Elizabeth “Lizzie” McClamb Sanders in Clayton, North Carolina.   She was raised in a Christian family and enjoyed going to church at Johnston Piney Grove, with her siblings on Sundays.   After high school, Addie attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.  Addie always had big dreams to go to New York, like her cousins, Earlene McClamb and Otis Sanders.   Addie soon followed her late three Aunts (Naomi McClamb, Nancy Long and Mattie McClamb) to New Rochelle, New York.   During her years as a Personal Administrative Assistant for over 60 years in a private residence, Addie always took time for family, no matter what.   In the summer months, she and her former husband (Howard Matthews) always had the best cookouts in New Rochelle, New York.   Some of her close friends were the Love family from Mount Vernon, New York and her cousin, Otis Sanders and his lovely wife Bea.   On the weekends, they would frequent the world’s famous “Savoy Club” in Harlem, New York and Coney Island.   Many summer months she cared for two nieces, Rev. Dr. Lilipiana Davis Darensburg and Mel Davis Eaton.   Each weekend they would travel to shop at Macy’s, Gimbel’s, Lillian Vernon’s and so many other local stores.    While living in New Rochelle, New York, she was very active with the Senior Travel’s Club with cousins Donald & Curnace Long for many years.   Over the years, Addie became a member of the prestigious Bethesda Baptist Church in New Rochelle, New York.  Addie spent over 70 years of her life in New Rochelle, New York.   

Words cannot express how much we loved Addie.   Anything that you needed in the family, Addie would always give you a lecture first and provided within thirty minutes.  She was indeed a provider!

Our special thanks to Capitol Rehab staff and management for the awesome care of Addie.  We send special love to “Milton” at Capitol Rehab and all the employees that assisted in her care.  We thank you Gladys Crowder for the visits and gift baskets, Pastor Melvin Turner for all the great solos and sermons you brought to her room and her special nephew “Gabriel Davis” for being there for her, through “thick & thin”.   We thank her nieces Alice Bridges Harris, Rev. Rachel Cannon and Veronica Davis for accompanying our mother, Emma Jean to the many visit to see Addie and friend Maxine Carter.   We sincerely thank all of you for the wonderful visits to see Addie over the 10 years.  One of her closest friends from New Rochelle, New York was “Ms. Estelle”.  

Addie is survived by one last sister, Emma Jean Sanders Davis of Raleigh, North Carolina.  She is also survived by 2 sisters-in-law, Wilma Sanders of Roswell, New Mexico and Rachel Sanders Upchurch of Raleigh, N.C.  She is survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends from New York, Baltimore, MD to Garner, Clayton and Henderson, North Carolina.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Bishop Russell and Elizabeth M. Sanders, seven brothers, Rev. Booker Sanders, Sr., Ralph B., Charles, Russell Lee, James, John Wesley and George C. Sanders and one sister, Vinea Sanders Bridges.

Memorial Service, 11 AM, Saturday, December 5, 2020, Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home, 1515 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh.  The Rev. Russell Sanders, Pastor, Union Baptist Church of Raleigh, Officiating.  

Cards of Love may be sent to: Rev. Dr. Lilipiana Davis Darensburg PO Box 2206 Henderson, NC  27536

Phone Calls Received:  (301)300-4297

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