Nell Millsap Mathews

Nell Millsap Mathews, 92, of Sandy Springs, GA passed away peacefully January 17, 2019 after a brief illness. Mrs. Mathews was born March 20, 1926 in Atlanta, GA. She was the daughter of the late James Thomas Millsap and Martha Louella Covington Millsap. Nell was preceded in death by her husband of seventy-three years J.E. “Jake” Mathews and infant son Jerry Wayne Mathews.

Mrs. Mathews and her late husband made their home in Kelly, Louisiana until moving to Atlanta in 1952. In 1980, they moved to Watkinsville, GA where they resided until 2016 when they returned to Atlanta.

Nell’s life was focused on family. She was a great “Southern” cook who loved nothing more than to gather her family around the dinner table.  She and Jake also enjoyed traveling.  Her greatest joy was spending family vacations with her children and grandchildren at the beach or mountains and sharing holidays as a family. She spent her last Christmas at Rosemary Beach, FL surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren sharing lots of love and laughter. Nell’s warm hugs and infectious laugh will be greatly missed.

Mrs. Mathews  was a member of Corinth Methodist Church in Winder, Georgia.

Nell is survived by her three children: son Michael Mathews (Patricia) of Conyers, GA; daughters Joyce Smith (Steve) of Sandy Springs, GA and Jayne Bailey (Stan) of Athens, GA; four grandchildren: Greg Tanner of Atlanta, Tony Mathews (Piyush) of Panama City Beach, FL, Janae Mathews Werbenec (Anthony) of Niceville, FL, and Sarah Bailey Sirzyk (David) of Brookhaven, GA; and three great-grandchildren: Jayden Mathews, Anson Werbenec, and James Sirzyk.

Funeral services will be Monday, January 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the chapel of Lord and Stephens, WEST, with Pastor Jennifer Carey officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202.

The family would like to thank Anne Stephens of Watkinsville, GA and the caregivers of Insignia of Sandy Springs for their care, love, and compassion.

Lord and Stephens, WEST, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com