Elizabeth "Betty" Jean Matthews

Elizabeth (Betty) Matthews, 92, of Chester, VA died on December 28, 2018. Betty was devoted to her family and committed to her community and will be missed by all who loved her dearly. She was born in Owatonna, Minnesota on October 24, 1926 to Blanche Florence and Vernon Harvey Worman. She received a BS in Speech degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and began her career teaching public speaking and costume design at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She held numerous positions, speaking and lecturing on the need for special education and non- discrimination/affirmative action for persons with disabilities. In Missouri she served as the first Executive Director of the Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and then in Virginia as the first Executive Director of the Governor’s Overall Advisory Council on the Needs of Handicapped Persons. While employed by the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, she became involved in numerous community activities and organizations. She was dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the Chesterfield County community and surrounding areas. After retiring, she began her second ‘career’ volunteering to help build a cultural arts center in Chesterfield. She served as the first Chairman of the Chesterfield Center for the Arts at Chester Foundation, now named the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Foundation. Among numerous awards, she received the Outstanding Chester Citizen Award from the Chester Community Association in 2005. She was honored to receive the Chester Quality of Life Award from the Chester Business Association in 2009, which is named for her. The Board of Directors of the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Foundation recently moved to name the lobby of the Baxter Perkinson Arts Center, the Betty Matthews Lobby. Her parents and brother, Donald Worman and wife, Donna; and daughter, Joy Mayes preceded her in death. She is survived by her brother, David Worman and wife, Marlene; sons, Lenny Matthews and wife Jody; Dean Matthews and wife Margie; Brian Matthews and wife Cindy; Donald Matthews and wife, Jennifer; Barry Matthews; David Matthews; son-in-law Ben Mayes and 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Foundation. A Life Celebration Memorial Service will be held at J. T. Morriss & Son in Chester, VA on May 11, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.