Mrs. Alice Walker Casey Mathews, a prolific community volunteer and educator, died March 7, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee following a life filled with joyful and dedicated service to her family, friends and numerous nonprofit and civic organizations.
A loving wife, mother, grandmother and volunteer, Mrs. Mathews was born in Nashville on December 20, 1931. She was a descendent of the earliest settlers of middle Tennessee, which gave her a special sense of place and family.
Mrs. Mathews was preceded in death by her parents, Walker Casey and Lura Celeste Hale Casey, brother, Walker Casey, sister Celeste Casey Reed (Cecy) and husband, Robert Cabeen Hopkins Mathews, Jr.
Mrs. Mathews was a product of the “greatest generation” of Americans who grew up during the Depression and in turn, were committed to bettering the world for others. From a young age, Mrs. Mathews’ core belief was that “to whom much is given, much is expected”. With this as her compass, she pursued service in every aspect of her life – social, civic, cultural, religious and educational and was nationally recognized for her community service.
Alice Mathews was a lifelong learner. She had a sharp intellect and, until her last days, was passionate about growing her knowledge about a spectrum of topics and issues. When her children were still young, she pursued her Bachelor and later Master’s degrees in education, often attending classes at night because her priority was being a wonderful and highly engaged mother and later, grandmother.
Alice was competitive, but only with herself, always challenging herself to learn more, think more and contribute more to the community. Mrs. Mathews and her husband, Bobby, a prominent real estate developer, were a tremendous team in their shared focus on Nashville and its progress. Although often a quiet and steadfast partner to her husband, Alice decisively did things in her own way and contributed on her own terms. As their travels spanned the globe, Mrs. Mathews pursued her boundless sense of adventure.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Mathews had a keen eye for beauty and was deeply committed to nonprofit groups. She had expert knowledge of gardening, landscaping and the decorative arts and loved to share those passions with others. Alice was deeply engaged in Garden Club of Nashville and its national organization, The Garden Club of America (GCA) in New York City, which she served as President, among many positions. In appreciation of this service, she was honored with numerous awards from the organization and received Town and Country magazine’s “Honor Roll of Volunteer Women.” Mrs. Mathews also was a member of Centennial Club, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens & Fine Arts Center, Leadership Nashville, National Society of Colonial Dames in Tennessee, Junior League of Nashville, the Planning Commission of the City of Belle Meade, Historic Traveler’s Rest Historic House Museum, The Colony Club of New York City and The Society of The Four Arts, Palm Beach, Florida.
Mrs. Mathews formerly served as Chairman of Traveler’s Rest Historic House Museum; Chairman of the Swan Ball benefiting Cheekwood; Chairman of Trees of Christmas Gala benefiting Cheekwood; Co-Chairman Iroquois Steeplechase Benefit for Children’s Hospital; Chairman for the Cancer Ball and Patrons Chairman of the Tennessee Performing Arts Gala. A professional educator, Mrs. Mathews taught at Bill Wilkerson Hearing and Speech Center; Peabody Remedial Reading Program; Akiva School and Jewish Federation of Teachers; and Metropolitan Nashville Schools. Mrs. Mathews was a graduate of Ward Belmont and Peabody Vanderbilt, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Masters in Special Education. She attended Pine Manor Junior College in Massachusetts before completing her education at Vanderbilt.
She was a devoted member of West End United Methodist Church. Alice Mathews will always be remembered for knowing and pursuing her life as she wanted, which was keenly and energetically focused on her family, her friends and her community. Her memory will always be a blessing and her contributions will perennially bloom.
Mrs. Mathews is survived by sons, Robert Cabeen Hopkins Mathews, III (Brooks) and Walker Casey Mathews (Renee); daughter, Mary Alice Mathews Bohannon (Lindsay); 11 grandchildren, Alice Mathews Bohannon, Evelyn Elizabeth Banks Bohannon, Philip Lindsay Bohannon, Jr. (Megan), Walker Casey Mathews, Jr.( Rachel) Christopher Newport Mathews, Emma Felcite Mathews, William Harding Blackman, Alex Baines Harlin Blackman (Sahar), Walter Hughes Blackman, Ella Dedman Mathews, Robert Cabeen Hopkins Mathews IV and three great grand children Casey and Baker Mathews and Hazel Blackman.
The Mathews family wishes to extend special thanks to Valerie Armstong, Patricia Scruggs, Jessica Quintana, Shelia Royster, Patsy Wood, Rhonda Freeman, Bennye Dotye and Jacque Kendle for their compassionate care.
A Memorial Service celebrating Mrs. Mathew’s life will be held at West End United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a reception at Belle Meade Country Club from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pall Bearers include grandsons, Walker Mathews, Jr., Christopher Mathews, Lindsay Bohannon Jr., Hopkins Mathews, Harding Blackman, Alex Blackman, and Walter Blackman
Honorary Pall Bearers are Members of the Garden Club of Nashville.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Cheekwood Howe Garden, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37205, Historic Traveler’s Rest and Museum, 636 Farrell Parkway, Nashville, TN 37220, Ensworth Endowment, 211 Ensworth Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205 or West End United Methodist Church, 2200 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Mathews family.
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