Greatchen S. Matthews

Greatchen S. “G-Money” Matthews was born on Sunday, September 27, 1953, in Orangeburg, SC. She was the daughter of the late James C. and Lizzie McFadden Matthews.  She was called home on Sunday morning, March 27, 2022, after a brief illness.  The sixth of seven children, she was preceded in death by two of her brothers, John-Edward Matthews and Charles J. Matthews.

She was educated in the schools of Orangeburg County and graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1971.  While at Wilkinson, she was a member of Wilkinson High School Amazing Wolverettes Basketball Team, which won the South Carolina State Championship in 1969.  After graduating from Wilkinson High School she attended Claflin (College) University and later Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

Because of her deep desire to serve her country, Greatchen enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in February 1977. While serving, she was ranked as Private First Class and worked as a Multi-Chain Command Equipment Operator until she was honorably discharged in December 1979.

From a child, she was a member of St. Paul Baptist Church (her family’s church), under the leadership of Rev. H. T. Williams, until the early 80’s when she moved to New Jersey and New York. She lived there for more than ten years and relocated back to Orangeburg to be near her family and friends in the late 90s. When she returned to Orangeburg, she joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bowman, SC under the leadership of Pastor Arthur W. Goforth.  There, she faithfully served in the Transportation Ministry until this ministry stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  With the desire to still serve, she worked faithfully in the Media Ministry, until her health failed.

She was employed at South Carolina State University and later at Claflin University through Sodexo as a floor technician until her death.

Anyone who knew her, knows she loved her family and loved sports.  As an avid sports aficionado, her favorite teams were the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers.

Greatchen is survived by: one daughter, Terra M. (James) Peartree of Lexington, SC; two BELOVED granddaughters, Ja-Mya and Jabaria Peartree, both of Middletown, NY; one sister, Sedaris (Isadore) Barnes; three brothers, James (Beola) Matthews, of Milledgeville, GA, Albert (Maxine) Matthews, of Flushing, NY; and Melvin Matthews, of Orangeburg, SC; a special friend, Rosa Gaffney, of the home; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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