Funeral services for Mrs. Ivydel Matthews, age 85 of Carthage, Texas will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 11, 2006 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Paul Thomasson officiating. Interment will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home. Mrs. Matthews passed away on Saturday morning, September 9, 2006 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Ivydel Byrd Matthews was born on January 11, 1921 in Tenaha, Texas to Arthur L. and Rosalie Teal Byrd. She was married to Pinkney B. Matthews, Sr. She loved playing bridge, reading books, gardening, and was a history buff. She had lived in Carthage since 1928 moving from Gary, Texas. Mrs. Matthews was a member of the Carthage First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1985; one son Arthur Frank Matthews in 2001; two granddaughters, Stephanie Kaye Adams Smith and Ann Marie Bailey.

Mrs. Matthews is survived by one son, Pinkney B. Matthews, Jr. of Lufkin, Texas; two daughters, Elizabeth Matthews of Carthage and Sydney Lee Adams and husband Ron of Keithville, Louisiana; nine grandchildren, Jimmy Matthews, Beth Higgins, Rhonda Milano, Ruby Allred, Christopher Adams, Daryl Adams, Charles Matthews Bailey, Shannon Carman, and Sommer Adams; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Serving as pallbearers are Benny Mitchell, Tommy Vannoy, Jimmy Vannoy, Matt Bailey, Daryl Adams, and Dan Mitchell.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.