Annie Bell Matthews may not hear so well at 90, but those who are willing to listen to her will learn of a passion for serving God and a lifetime commitment to the church.
Proof of her loyalty is evident in her 79 years as an active member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Fackler.
During her time at the church, Matthews has been involved in everything from youth and adult Sunday School classes to Vacation Bible School and Training Union. Along the way, she also found other opportunities for service through Woman’s Missionary Union, singing in the church choir and serving as the church’s clerk and treasurer.
“I worked wherever I was needed,” she said. “I love church work.”
But a family friend, Deborah Wright, said there is more to Matthews than her church work. Wright described Matthews as someone who sets an example for other believers through how she lives her life.
“She defines what a Christian woman should be,” Wright said. “She takes life as it comes and wants everything that happens to her to glorify God.”
While age forced her to quit teaching Sunday School about five years ago, Matthews still attends services regularly.
“All the people in church say she’s their prayer warrior,” said Matthews’ daughter, Shirley Miller.
Matthews’ history of church involvement has allowed her to see many changes. She said churches are “more modern” now, a style she said is not necessarily good.
“Things are getting too modern,” she said. “I like the old-fashioned way.”
She is also discouraged by the attitude among many of today’s churchgoers that she says is a result of the many options they have in life other than church.
“People are not as committed as they once were,” she said. “There are too many places to go and too many things to do now. We didn’t have any places to go or any way to go (when she was young), so we walked to church with our parents.”
Miller described her mother as someone who is known for helping others whenever she can. “She’s a real caring person,” Miller said.
A widow since 1988, Matthews still lives alone. Even though she is not as active as she once was, she still loves to crochet. Many of the items she has made, from pillows to Bible markers, have ended up in the homes of her fellow class members after being given as Christmas gifts.
Age has forced her to abandon other interests like gardening, which her daughter said was “a great hobby of hers.” Until several years ago she prepared unleavened bread for the observance of the Lord’s Supper at her church, a responsibility she has since passed on to her daughter.
She still enjoys watching athletic events on television, an activity Matthews said allows her to spend time with her only grandson, Jeremy, 24.
“I enjoy reading God’s Word and studying my Sunday School lesson,” she said.
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