Mattie Lee (Hill) Pearson

Mattie Lee Pearson, age 94 of 454 Union Ln., Broadway, NC passed on Friday, January 11, 2019 at FirstHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, of West End, NC. 

The amazing and inspiring journey of our family matriarch – MATTIE LEE HILL PEARSON – commenced on Father’s Day, June 15, 1924. She was the oldest of sixteen descendants born to the late Reverend Roley and Mrs. Maudie Roberts Hill in the Goldston Township of Chatham County, North Carolina.  She attended the Goldston Rosenwald School, Goldston NC. She was baptized at an early age and attended her father’ church. 

MATTIE met Wilbert Pearson and after a brief courtship, they united in marriage on September 13, 1945. They made their home in his hometown, Broadway NC, and their union was blessed with twelve children.

MATTIE established her spiritual home at Cameron Grove AME Zion Church. She served as a member of the Missionary Society and the Stewardess Board. She faithfully supported the church and the ministry in every area until her health declined.

MATTIE’s work ethic was an illustration of hard work and strength. Her places of employment included the former Singer Furniture Company, the former Cigar Supply Company, and Coty, Inc. During her moments of leisure, she was “an expert” in many areas: fishing, especially in the deep-sea; hunting; sewing; gardening; and building storage houses with her hands. She was full of wisdom and shared it with the family and community. Her words were powerful and truthful. She was our “personal” physician – she had a home remedy for every ailment. Even though her voice is silent and her hands are still, we are grateful to God that “her labor was not in vain.”

MATTIE was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Pearson Sr.; sons, Wilbert “Duke” Pearson, Jr. and Archie Lee Pearson (infant); and a daughter Cynthia Pearson Felder; her parents, Reverend and Mrs. Roley and Maudie Roberts Hill; her brothers, Roland Jr. “RJ”, Gurney, Herbert, Thomas, Willie, Roosevelt, Waymon, James Lewis, Timothy, and Benjamin and her sisters, Beatrice, Helen, and Gladys. MATTIE’s journey culminated on Friday morning, January 11, 2019 at FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, West End NC as she received the promised rest, peace and joy from her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Her life and legacy will be forever admired, appreciated and applauded by her children: Shirley Pearson of Lillington NC, Annie McNeill of Broadway NC, Catherine Pearson Allen of Spring Lake NC, Naomi Pearson Douglas (Ray) of Broadway NC, Julia Pearson of Bennettsville SC, James “Sonny” Pearson (Janet), Ona Maria Pearson, Cassandra Pearson, and Frances Pearson Ross (Charles Sr.), all of Broadway NC. She was affectionally called “Pooh” by her 16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great grandchildren. “Pooh” was very instrumental in raising three of her great-grandchildren as her own – Yolanda Gamble, Kesha Coley (Tremayne), and Shanice Addison. She also is fondly remembered by her brother, Theodore Hill (Anna) of Newark NJ and her sister, Mary Ann Hill of Sanford NC; sisters-in-law, Nina Ringgold of Baltimore, MD and Laura Williams of Silver Springs, MD; Harry Chubbs Sr. (Diane) and Lynwood Prince (Anna), whom were welcomed in her home at all times; nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends.

The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter, Shirley Pearson 7282 US 421 N. Lillington, NC 

Arrangements By: Knotts Funeral Home, Sanford