Burgess Mathews

ROCHESTER - July 22, 2022. Burgess is survived by a large family including, spouse; children; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; sisters; nieces; nephews; cousins & dear friends. Burgess's life story will be shared during his visitation at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane (between 390 & Long Pond Rd.), Thursday, July 28th, 4-8 PM. Burgess will be laid to rest in Grenada, MS.

Burgess was born on July 20, 1937 in Morgan City, Mississippi to parents Ananais and Lovie Matthews. Ananais worked as a sharecropper, farming the land and working at a cotton mill. Lovie was a devoted mother of 14 children, and worked on the farm alongside her husband. In order, Burgess' siblings were: JC Matthews, LV Matthews, Ananais Matthews Jr, Jessie Matthews, Annie Lee Thomas, Betty Livingston Matthews, Willie Matthews, Ellis Matthews, Bertha Matthews, and Marie Archer Matthews. When Burgess grew up, he held jobs at Gerber's Baby Food, Kodak, and worked as a butcher while living in Mississippi.

Burgess is predeceased by his first wife, Artis Matthews, with whom he had children, Bertha Matthews (predeceased), Burgess Matthews Jr (Ismail), Johnny Tar, Verna Allen (predeceased), Cynthia (Troy Turner) Matthews, Arthur Matthews, Tanita Walton, Patricia Matthews (predeceased), Anna Maria Hubbard Webster, and Alan Webster. Burgess is survived by his wife Betty Matthews and stepchildren Michelle and Aaron Brown, John Anthony Matthews, and Waamiq Marshall Washington. Burgess was also the proud and loving grandfather to 48 grandchildren and 59 great-grandchildren.

Burgess was an active member of the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, and enjoyed gambling, spending time with his friend Mr. Sawyer, fishing, gardening, playing bingo, and enjoying quality time with his family. He loved the music of Blue Joe Simon and BB King, and could often be found watching golf or The Price is Right. Inspired by his mother, the most important things in Burgess' life were family and hard work. He struggled to sit back and relax, because he constantly strove to give his family everything he possibly could. He will be deeply missed here on earth, and will be remembered as a strong, driven, loving, kind, and generous man.