Jessica Delayne Mathews' Obituary
Jessica Delayne Mathews lived a full and meaningful life in her short 21 years with us. She left this earth and was present with Christ on Sunday, November 4, 2012, after a cardiac arrest.
Jessica was born to Dave and Julie Mathews on May 7, 1991 in Longview--the youngest member of the Emmanuel Baptist youth group of White Oak. Soon after, her sisters Brianne and Alyssa were born, and the years of matching outfits and humongous hairbows began. They were the best-dressed toddlers in town, with Jessica leading the trio, bossing and correcting her sisters as an older sister should.
The family and community mourned when Jessica's father Dave passed away in 1996. Jessica, who shared his lifelong battle with diabetes, braved this tragedy and grew to be a woman of great compassion and character, showing others the love of Christ through the details of her everyday life. She loved working with children and was diligently studying to become a speech pathologist. In addition, she taught a children's Bible study at First Baptist Church of Waco, and served on international mission trips to Ethiopia and Belize.
A senior at Baylor University, Jessica loved her Baylor Bears and attending football and basketball games. She was so excited to be able to cheer the Lady Bears to a national championship in Denver this year. She also performed in Baylor's All-University SING and Pigskin with Sing Alliance.
Jessica was deeply devoted to her sisters and to all of her family and friends, who will cherish the memory of her loyal heart, her adventurous spirit, and most of all her love for Jesus.
Jessica is survived by her mother, Julie; stepfather, Kenneth Adams; sisters, Brianne and Alyssa, all of White Oak; her grandparents, Dwayne and JoAnn Lemmon, of Atlanta; John and Catherine Mathews, of Denver, CO; uncle and aunt, Kevin and Tisha Lemmon, of Atlanta; special cousins Nathan Lemmon, Paul Lemmon, and Jacob Lemmon, all of Atlanta; Ryan and Rachael Wirtanen of Denver; step grandmother Elouise Adams of Atlanta; aunt and uncle Brad and Glenda Haugh and other family of Atlanta; extra special friends, the Landrum family, Tisha McGuire, Holli Clements, Carla Ellison and families, Kathy and Terry Carroll, Taylor King and family, the Tatum family and her church families at First Baptist Church of Longview and First Baptist Church of Waco.
Jessica was preceded in death by her father, Dave Mathews; aunt Venice Mathews; great grandmother Evelyn Dunlap; and a very special baby sitter Elizabeth Landrum.
Visitation will be from 6 pm to 8 pm Wednesday evening at Rader Funeral Home. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Longview with burial to follow at White Oak Cemetery.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39
Memorial contributions may be made in jessica's name at Citizens Bank.
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