Lawanna Holland Matthews

Lawanna Holland Matthews, age 92, gained her angel wings when she went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and dearly missed "Hunny" Earl on Saturday, June 17, 2023 with her family by her side. Lawanna was the second of three children born to parents Wiley and Lela when she entered this world in Fort Pierce, Florida on January 18, 1931. During her teenage years she enjoyed visiting her grandparents up in Fanning Springs, where her Grandpa Turlington was an inspector at the Ag Station. One summer while visiting her grandparents, Lawanna met Earl who eventually became the love of her life, at the young age of 15 on one of the days she walked to the springs to swim. The two fell in love over a two year period and Earl finally convinced her to marry him in June of 1948 when she was only 17 years old. True love it had to be, because Earl convinced her to leave in-door plumbing and move to Trenton and endure the hardship of an outhouse, and a well that had to be pumped by hand for water. Lawanna would also tell you that Earl finished raising her, and boy did it get under skin that he had to sign her high school report cards for her senior year of high school. The two farmed for a living on the Matthews Family homestead in Trenton, until 1972 when she started working at Cross City Correctional in the Personnel Department. In 1950 Earl and Lawanna welcomed their first child Ernest. Lawanna would tell stories about taking Ernest to the watermelon field and putting him in the shade while she would hoe the watermelon fields. In 1955 they welcomed their second child Steve, and in 1966 Shawn their caboose came along. In 1996 Lawanna retired from Cross City Correctional after working her way up to becoming the manager of the Personnel Department. She spent her retirement years working in her favorite roll of all, as Nana. She truly loved being a Nana to all of her grandkids, and throughout her life she grew to be a Nana for many more than just her blood ones. Lawanna lived a life that exemplified her name and in doing so left a legacy for all that knew and loved her. The doors to her home and her heart were always open. She will be remembered for her unconditional love, her gentle spirit, her forgiving nature, her inner strength, her love of Jesus Christ, and her kitchen full of snacks for all those who visited her. Lawanna was preceded in death by her Father Wylie, Mother Lela, Sister Jeny, Grandson Erron, Hunny Earl, and her oldest son Ernest. She will forever be remembered by her children: Steve (Sheila) Matthews Sr., and Shawn (Dwayne) Leverette; grandchildren: Steven (Jessica) Matthews Jr., Stephanie (Danny) Matthews Clark, Casey (Sarah) Matthews, Whitley (John) Davis, Justin Leverette, Josh Leverette, Briton (Cassidy) Leverette, JD Leverette, and Briana Leverette. Her memory will also be cherished by her 16 great-grandchildren, sister Linda Snyder, life-long friends Vera Lindsey and Maxine Parrish, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. For all those who knew Earl, knew he had absolutely ZERO patience. We all know he has been sitting on that bench outside of Heaven's Gates stomping his feet, and shaking his head waiting on "His LeWanner" to get there for the last 17 years. Through this hard time her family has so much peace and happiness knowing that the two are finally together again. We all love you, and will miss you dearly.

Lawanna Holland Matthews

January 18, 1931 - June 17, 2023