Mrs. Esther Baker Matthews, 81 "Babydoll"

Stedman

Mrs. Esther "Babydoll" Baker Matthews, 81 of 1994 Wade Stedman Road, passed away Monday, June 5, 2017 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Center Baptist Church in Wade, officiating will be Pastor Joe Hickson. Interment will follow at Maxwell Cemetery in Autryville.

The family will receive friends from 7:00pm to 9:00pm Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at the funeral home.

She was born in Duplin County to the late Lawton Baker and Effie Griffin Baker. She is also preceded in death by a son, Gareth Baker; and brother, Weaver Ward Baker; and brothers-in-law, Cleatus Jones and Ernest Kennedy.

She was a longtime member of Sandy Plain Original Free Will Baptist Church in Beulaville and currently a member of Center Baptist Church. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, mema, great grandmother and sister, who cherished her family. She loved traveling and cooking, especially chicken and pastry.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, William Branson Matthews; children, Graham Deryan Matthews and Melissa "Lisa" Matthews Rosser & husband, Joseph Ray Rosser; grandchildren, Dillon Lee Matthews & fiance', Taylor Smith, Valerie Ann Rosser and Joseph Matthew Rosser; great grandchildren, Bellagray Hawley and Dawson Matthews; brothers, Henry Millard Baker & wife, Deanna and Zealon Franklin Baker & wife, Pauline and sisters, Jo Ann Baker Jones and Jennithan "Kay" Baker Kennedy; and sister-in-law, Rita Baker.

Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 6535 Clinton Road, Stedman.