Obituary of Mattie Sue Tabb

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) Mattie S. Tabb, daughter of the late Rufus and late Mabel Jeffries, was born on March 13, 1934 in Nottoway County, Virginia. She was number eight of fifteen children, right in the middle of the pack. She transitioned with her family by her side, just as she lived her life: quietly and peacefully after a brief illness, to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Mattie was educated in the public schoolsystem of Lunenburg County, Virginia. She graduated from Lunenburg High School, class of 1952, Lunenburg County, Virginia. At an early age, Mattie gave her life to Christ. She joined, and was baptized at the New Bethel Baptist Church under the spiritual leadership of the late Reverend S.C. Fitz. After moving to Baltimore, Mattie moved her membership to the Fountain Baptist church and later became a founding "CHARTER MEMBER" of the Ray of Hope Baptist Church, under the tutelage of the late Reverend Dr. Charles M. Franklin Sr. She was a charter member of the Nurses Unit (Health Ministry) and Administrative Staff (she was responsible for recording the financial envelopes and financialstatements) and knew your church number (over 800 active members) when there were no computers. Every Monday, she and Dr. Daisy Franklin would work on the envelopes from 10am-1pm and if they were not completed, Mattie would take them home to complete. Mattie was honored by her Pastor and church family as a "Trailblazer" in 2015. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23. She loved sitting and reading her bible. On July 4, 1959, she married the love of her life, Thomas R. Tabb Sr. They were blessed with three children: Sharon (Shernie), Lora (Lotsy) and Tommy (Peter). Mattie was fondly known as "Sam, Samacus, Blue Bells and simply "MOM" to many. Trust and believe, her relationship with you was special. Everyone had their own story. She was known as "one of the go to mom's" of Milton Avenue and was there for everyone. She cherished her family and was always there in her quiet way, if you needed her. She accepted you for who you were, without judgment. She was truly a confidante- if you had something to share and didn't want anyone to know…..it stayed right there with her. You could go to her with anything, you would NEVER hear it again. She was the keeper of secrets. She always greeted you with a radiant smile. It was an infectious smile-a smile that would light the entire room. God blessed her with the gift of discernment. She could read you like a book from the first moment she laid eyes on you. She had a green thumb, her plants were beautiful. She still has a plant that is thirty-seven years old. She loved to dance, hum, and sing- "Come On In My Room." Some of her favorite sayings were: "Lawd! Lawd! Lawd!, yeah baby, keep on living, you'll see, and especially; Thank God for the Journey!" Family was very important to her. She loved her family. It was the soul of her being. She helped raise all of her grandchildren. She started teaching them scriptures at an early at age. Before leaving her home in the morning for school, you had to recite your scripture. Mattie was proud of her family, she would say "You'll never find another family like ours…..we are a very close knit family. My sisters and brothers are the best, PERIOD." She loved all her sisters and brothers, but, the Ying to her Yang, the frick to her frack, was her sister Mary. At any given time, you could find themtogether, you didn't see one without the other; the up to the down, the left to the right, two peas in a pod. They had an indescribable bond that words could not explain. She would do anything for her family, all you had to do was ask. Her favorite shows were Family Feud and she loved herself some Steve Harvey, Jeopardy: it was all about Ken Jennings, not Alex Trebek and Wheel of Fortune; after that she was off to bed. She really liked the Orioles, but the New York Yankees was her team. She like the Ravens, however, her team was the Green Bay Packers. She was a true woman of GOD, nurturer, protector, motivator, rescuer, and your greatest supporter ever. Preceding Mattie S. Tabb in death were: mother and father, Rufus and Mabel Jeffries, sisters: Rosa Scott, Ruth Miller, Ida (Josephine) Bland and brothers: James Clifton, Johnny (Jack) Jeffries and Calvin (Hoover) Jeffries. She leaves to cherish her loving memories: her daughters Sharon Wright, Lora Smothers (Aaron) and son Thomas Tabb (Lisa); granddaughters, London Ciara, Jasmine and Antoinette Wright; grandsons, Travon and Tyshawn Tabb, and Vanison Showell lll; great granddaughters, Cameryn Tabb and TaNiyah Showell; great grandsons, Khyrie and Kamari Holland, Braylen and Kaden Tabb, Ryan and Jayce Myrick, and Tyshawn Tabb Jr.; sisters, Mary Johns, Baltimore, MD, Lacy Fowlkes, Crewe, VA, Fannie Moore, Westchester, NY, Virginia Johnson (Napoleon), Crewe, VA, Veronia Jeffries, Crewe, VA and Betty Jeffries, Crewe, VA; brothers, Rufus Jeffries Jr, Crewe, VA and Charles Jeffries (Robin), Baltimore, MD; three special adopted daughters, Karen Franklin, Sharon Berkeley and Lessilie Shields; two very special and dear friends, Dr. Daisy Franklin and Delores Thomas, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, friends and the Ray of Hope Baptist Church Family.