George Lynwood Stephenson

Family/Spouse: Mildred Strickland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. George Lynwood Stephenson, Jr.
2. Deborah Denise Stephenson
3. Bruce Wayne Stephenson
4. Robin Rene Stephenson
5. Scott Matthew Stephenson

William married Mavis Gertrude Matthews on 23 Dec 1920 in Harnett Co., North Carolina. Mavis (daughter of George Washington Matthews and Dora McLeod) was born on 1 Jun 1901 in Neill's Creek Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 24 Jan 1998 in Morganton, North Carolina; was buried in Harnett Memorial Park, Lillington, Harnett Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Daily Record, Dunn, North Carolina January 1998]

MAVIS M. STEPHENSON, 96
Mavis Matthews Stephenson, 96, formerly of Morganton, died Saturday at Autumn Care.
The Harnett County native was the daughter of the late George Washington Matthews and Dora McLeod Matthews. She was a retired grocery store owner in Wilmington and was preceded in death by her husband William S. Stephenson; sons, Howard and Darnell Stephenson; and grandson Michael Stephenson.
Survivors include a daughter, Elender S. Blackburn of Wilmington; daughter Ann S. Greer of Morganton; sons Loyd Stephenson of Wilmington, Lynwood Stephenson of Fayetteville, Terry Stephenson of Spartanburg, SC., Phillip Stephenson of Johnson City, Tennessee.; 21 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at Kirksey Memorial Chapel in Morganton. Grave side services will be held today at 2 P.M. at Harnett Memorial Park in Lillington.

Notes:

Notes for GEORGE WASHINGTON MATTHEWS:
George Washington Matthews died on the eve of his 101st birthday at Adams & Kinton Rest Home in Lillington, Harnett County, N.C.
It was noted on his death certificate that his mother was Edith Ann Matthews and this information was incorrect. The information was supplied by his grandson Edward Matthews. Information supplied by living family members state that Emily Unknown Matthews is the Mother of George Washington Matthews.

Sources:
Death Certificate Harnett County Register of Deeds
Family Knowledge
Articles Daily Record & Dunn Dispatch Dunn, N.C. Early 1950s
Obituary Daily Record, Dunn, N.C.
Photo's On File

Note: 1880 Harnett County Census for Black River Township list George at age 17 living with parents Simon and Emily Matthews in Black River Township.

Source:News Article Dunn Dispatch, Dunn, North Carolina July 1959
"GEORGE MATTHEWS TO SOON CELEBRATE 97th BIRTHDAY"
Mr. George W. Matthews of South Front Street , Wilmington, N.C.,formerly of Angier, is visiting his granddaughter and family Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Wood of Erwin.
Mr. Matthews was born and reared near Angier. His wife died 54 years ago leaving him with four children. He has raised all of them as a widower. His old home place is in the Neill's Creek Community. He is one of the oldest members of Neill's Creek Baptist Church.
He will celebrate his 97th birthday July 4th.
At 96, he is still able to get around without help.
Two of his main interest are television and radio. He doesn't read much anymore because of failing eyesight.
Mr. Matthews' children are Mr. Millard Matthews of Angier, Mrs. Charles Nordan of Route 2, Angier, Mrs. Gertie Barbour of Coats and Mrs. W. S. Stephenson of Wilmington. He has 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Note: At the time of his 97th birthday George W. Matthews was residing with his Daughter Mavis Matthews Stephenson on S. Front Street in Wilmington, N.C.

Source: News Article on the 99th birthday of George W. Matthews
Published in Dunn Dispatch, Dunn, North Carolina Abt. July 1962 By; Jewel Pope Dispatch Staff Writer
Title: Not Legible

In this modern age of jet speed and space travel,George Washington Matthews, a Harnett native has seen a lot of history in the making and has made quite an enviable record himself in longevity and the art of enjoying living.
Now living in Angier, Mr Matthews will celebrate his 99th birthday on July 4, and is well, happy, alert and ready to enjoy the celebration. He was born July 4,1862 near Neill's Creek Church and has been a church member since he was fourteen.
In this era of bifocals,trifocals, and contact lens, Mr. Matthews is endowed with good vision and has never worn glasses of any kind. His formula of good life is Christian at-home living and he has never been out of his home state except once to a tobacco market in Danville,Virginia in 1936.
Mr. Matthews has never been to a fair, carnival or movie show_ or more significantly he has never been in court; nor has either of his four children.
Mr. Matthews has farmed all his life, but has never raised any tobacco.
He can surely go to bed at night with a easy conscience for he doesn't owe anyone one cent and he has always paid his debts.
His pleasures are simple_ he enjoys talking to people and listening to the radio. He can't get around very well but hearing is excellent.
And in this age of injections and injections to counteract injections, doctor shortages and crowded hospitals, Mr. Matthews has not added to the burden, because he has never been in a hospital. He has had maybe two or three "shots", but no serious illness.
He considers that his life has been blessed_ rich and full with no regrets for having missed anything.
His four children are as follows: Mrs. Charlie H. Nordan of Angier, Mrs. W. S. Stephenson of Wilmington,Mr. Millard Matthews of Angier and Mrs. Gertie Barbour of Coats. He has twenty grandchildren and thirty-six great grandchildren. With his philosophy of quiet, easy living and enjoyment of his family and friends, George Washington Matthews surely will next year be celebrating his centenary birthday.

Note: At age 99 George Washington Matthews was residing with his only son Millard F. Matthews in Angier, North Carolina.

Source: Obituary July 1963 Dunn Dispatch, Dunn, North Carolina

"MR. MATTHEWS DIED ON EVE OF 101st BIRTHDAY"

George Washington Matthews who celebrated his 100th birthday last July 4, 1962, died on the eve of his 101st birthday Wednesday, July 3, in Kinton-Adams Rest Home near Lillington.
Mr. Matthews, who had lived a rich but simple life, passed away quitely.
He was born on July 4,1862 near Neill's Creek Church in Harnett County and had always made his home in this county.
He had farmed, but due to his principles never raised tobacco or smoked. He also had never attended a movie or a fair or carnival. During his over 100 years of life he had never traveled any further from home that Danville, Va., a trip he made in 1936.
Mr. Matthews had been a member of Neill's Creek Church since the age of fourteen years old.
In remarkable health until recently, Mr. Matthews had never had a serious illness during his over 100 years of life.
Funeral services for Mr. Matthews were conducted at 4 P.M. Thursday in the Neill's Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. R. Lewis Beale officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
He is survived by a son, Millard, of Angier; two daughters, Mrs. Gertie Barbour of Coats and Mrs. Mavis Stephenson of Wilson and twenty grandchildren.

Note: George W. Matthews daughter Nolia Matthews Nordan was deceased at the time of his death.
It incorrectly listed Mrs. Mavis Stephenson (daughter) as residing in Wilson. She resided in Wilmington, North Carolina.

More About GEORGE WASHINGTON MATTHEWS:
Burial: Aft. July 03, 1963, Neill's Creek Church Cemetery,Harnett County, N.C.
Cause of Death: Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Member of Neill's Creek Baptist Church, Harnett County, N.C. since age 14

George married Dora McLeod about 1889 in Harnett Co., North Carolina. Dora (daughter of William T. McLeod and Edith A. Unknown) was born on 6 Sep 1872 in Black River Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; died on 27 Jul 1905 in Neill's Creek Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried in Neill's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Angier, Harnett Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[1880 Census]

Census Place: Black River, Harnett, North Carolina
Source: FHL Film 1254967 National Archives Film T9-0967 Page 36B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Simon MATTHEWS Self M M W 47 NC
Occ: Farmer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Emly MATTHEWS Wife F M W 46 NC
Occ: Keeping House Fa: NC Mo: NC
Mary MATTHEWS Dau F S W 24 NC
Fa: NC Mo: NC
Penny MATTHEWS Dau F S W 22 NC
Fa: NC Mo: NC
George W. MATTHEWS Son M S W 17 NC
Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Danel M. MATTHEWS Son M S W 13 NC
Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Flora C. MATTHEWS Dau F S W 12 NC
Occ: At School Fa: NC Mo: NC
Delia MATTHEWS Dau F S W 10 NC
Occ: At School Fa: NC Mo: NC
Walter MATTHEWS Son M S W 8 NC
Occ: At School Fa: NC Mo: NC
Willian B. MATTHEWS Son M S W 6 NC
Fa: NC Mo: NC
Alison H. MATTHEWS Son M S W 4 NC
Fa: NC Mo: NC
Alsey MATTHEWS Father M W W 90 NC
Occ: Retired Farmer Fa: NC Mo: NC

Simon married Emily Matthews about 1853. Emily (daughter of William Matthews, Jr. and Nancy McLeod) was born on 15 Jun 1834 in Cumberland Co., North Carolina; died on 18 Mar 1917 in Neill's Creek Township, Harnett Co., North Carolina; was buried in Neill's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Angier, Harnett Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[1880 Census]

Census Place: Black River, Harnett, North Carolina
Source: FHL Film 1254967 National Archives Film T9-0967 Page 33C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
William T. MCLEODSelf M M W 32 NC
Occ: Farm Laborer Fa: NC Mo: NC
Edieth A. MCLEOD Wife F M W 32 NC
Occ: Keeping House Fa: NC Mo: NC
Dorah MCLEOD Dau F S W 7 NC
Fa: NC Mo: NC

William married Edith A. Unknown about 1869. Edith was born in 1848 in Cumberland Co., North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]