Clytie Louise Shanklin Matthews

Please click here to view the program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16I3o7PkNX0aorPUxnCi8j0B7qlB2Gvi5/view?usp=drivesdk We gather here today, not in sorrow, though a space is left that can never quite be filled, but in remembrance of a life lived, a journey completed with grace and a spirit that danced through the days.. Born in Long Branch, West Virginia, on Thanksgiving Day, November 28th 1935. Clytie Louise Shanklin Matthews walked this earth with a rhythm all her own, until March 18, 2025, leaving behind a tapestry woven with threads of faith, family, adventure, and a humor that surely brightened many a weary soul. Clytie was a woman woven from strong threads. She knew the embrace of family, as a sister to Eugene Coles, and though preceded in her heavenly journey by her sisters Esther, Hilda, Lola, Bertha, Rose, Naomi, Clementine, and Dakota, and her aunt Cassie, the love they shared surely echoed in her heart. She knew the joy of building a family, first in 1955 with Wesley Shanklin (deceased), in Washington D.C., where her three children, Juanita, Freida, and Robert, were born and led to her role as a grandmother of seven, a great-grandmother of twelve, and a great-great-grandmother of two – a testament to the enduring power of her love. And when life turned a new page, she found love again with Sylvester Matthews (deceased) in 1991, expanding her heart and home to include Edward & Pattie Matthews, Sylvia & Carl Jr. Hopkins, Clifford & Robin Matthews, Natalie & Mykl Asanti, Angela & Eddie Lee, along with nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Her beloved son-in-law Robert Davis, daughter-in-law Anna Marano-Shanklin and god-daughter Cassandra Ragland also held a special place in her life. Clytie was not a woman to sit still. Her spirit held a yearning for adventure, a youthful zest that saw her jet skiing, laughing on water slides, and feeling the thrill of roller coasters in her senior years. But beneath the playful surface beat a heart grounded in faith. A Christian woman, Clytie was deeply involved in her religious community. She was a charter member of Evangel Cathedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and her commitment shone through her work in the Education Ministry, Visitation Ministry, intercessory prayer, and the Baptismal Ministry. She even shared her gifts at Haven Ministries in Far Rockaway, New York, founded by her sister Naomi and son Richard Hartley. Her strong faith was a cornerstone of her being, a guiding light that informed her belief in living life to the fullest. Clytie’s curiosity extended beyond her local community. She was a traveler, a seeker of new horizons. Imagine her footsteps gracing the lands of Israel, Jordan, Greece, and Egypt on multiple occasions, then journeying further to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kenya, Costa Rica, Bali, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil, Aruba, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Often, her son and niece Yvonne were her cherished travel companions. She was a woman of words, a poet, and a creative writer. Her personality was woven with compassion, care, adventure, devotion, and an evangelistic spirit. And oh, that great sense of humor! She knew the power of a good laugh and the joy of bringing people together with a game of BINGO, Horseshoes, or Checkers at family gatherings. Clytie Matthews, this woman we honor today, she was a counselor, guiding many to live their best lives with Christ as their center. Her greatest accomplishments lie in her dedication – to her family, her church, her evangelism, her successful career with the Federal Government at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and yes, even in throwing the best yard sale in town. She lived by the values of loving God, loving people, and finding joy in every step of life’s journey. So, as we say farewell for now to Clytie, we know that her memory will live on through the love she poured into her family, her church community, the many lives she touched with her counsel and inspiration, her professional contributions, and that infectious humor that could light up any room. Her life was a testament to the power of faith, the joy of adventure, and the enduring strength of love. Let us hold her spirit in our hearts and strive to live our own lives with the same zest and devotion that defined Clytie’s remarkable journey.

Clytie Louise Shanklin Matthews

November 28, 1935 - March 18, 2025