Cleveland Matlock

Cleveland Matlock - Submitted photo
Cleveland Matlock - Submitted photo

Deacon Cleveland Matlock, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went home to be with his Lord Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, peacefully at CHI St. Vincent hospital in Hot Springs, Ark.

Cleveland Matlock was born June 6, 1931, to the late Jewel Matlock and Millie Williams in Sparkman, Ark. In 1953 while working for Coca-Cola, he met the love of his life, Ida Mae Johnson (Betty), which they would spend the next 66 years together. They had six (6) beautiful and devoted children, four (4) girls, Mary, Pearline, Annie and Gwen; two (2) boys, William and Dennis. In 1956, they moved to Mountain Pine where Cleveland worked on the railroad for Dierks before moving into the sawmill at Weyerhaeuser and was a dedicated employee for 38 years.

Cleveland loved watching baseball, basketball, football and old western movies. He also enjoyed being in his gardens planting and growing greens, cabbages, peas, grapevines and his favorite tomatoes. Cleveland was a family man. He always enjoyed being surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He served as a deacon at Gordon Memorial COGIC until his health began to decline and he moved his membership to Deliverance Temple COGIC, where his son-in-law is the pastor and where he gave his life to Christ.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Pearline Madyun; brothers, Cecil and W.T. Matlock; and sisters, Annie Pearl Tate and Mary Conner Brooks.

He is survived by his wife, Ida Mae Matlock; sons, William H. Matlock (Elizabeth), Wurzburg, Germany, Dennis R. Matlock, Little Rock, Ark.; daughters, Mary L. McClellan, Houston, Texas, Annie Babb (Larry), Mountain Pine, Ark., Gwendolyn Matlock, Little Rock, Ark.; one brother, Leavy Matlock, Malvern Ark.; 13 grandchildren, Tonoka Settles (Victor), Kasib Madyun, Aadil Madyun, Robin Babb (Meagan), Jason Babb, Kimberlin Babb (Kenny Blevins), Amelia Matlock, Marcus Matlock (Tammalah), Jawann McClellen (Keanou), Michelle Matlock, Dominque Thomas (John), Ashlyn Matlock, Markeith Matlock; and 16 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation: noon to 6 p.m. today, Jan. 21, at funeral home.

Celebration of life: 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Deliverance Temple Institute Church of God in Christ, 409 N. Main Street, Malvern, Ark.

Services entrusted to Samuel L. Vance & Sons Funeral Directors - Malvern; http://www.samuellvanceandsons.com 501-337-0100.

Upcoming Events