Lorraine J Mathews

Lorraine Jean Mathews, of Manchester, NJ, transitioned from Earth to Glory on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Mom and Granny as she was so affectionately called by immediate family, friends and her brothers and sisters at The Love of Jesus Family Church, was 93 years young. Born to William and Julia Dunbar on September 30, 1931, Lorraine was one of six children, of which she was the baby.

Raised in Philadelphia, PA, Mom attended South Philadelphia High School for Girls and graduated in 1949. Lorraine met and married her late husband, Leonard Paul Mathews. They were married for 67 years. Lorraine and Paul moved to Newark, NJ, where they raised two sons, Mark Andrew and Gregory Paul.

Mom worked at NJ Bell Telephone Company where she was employed for over 30 years. She was very proud to have been a union delegate for the IBEW Local 827, where she received many awards and citations. Mom also had the honor of escorting then Gov. McCain to the IBEW State Convention in 1976.

Mom was a longtime member of the Trinity Methodist Church in Newark, NJ, where she faithfully attended while ensuring that her sons Mark and Gregory attended and were introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1983, Lorraine and Paul moved to Phoenix, Arizona. There, they joined Murph AME Church. When they moved to another location in Phoenix, they joined Holy Trinity AME Church, where she was a faithful member of the Ushers and Steward Boards as well as the personal steward of the Pastor. Lorraine received several awards and presentations which were entered into the church’s official records.

Lorraine loved her family; both hers and Paul’s (who had 13 siblings) whom she diligently communicated with. She particularly loved and attended the Mathews Brown family reunions for 47 years.

After the passing of her beloved husband, Paul, in 2018, Lorraine moved to Manchester, NJ to live with her son, Gregory and daughter-in-law, Ava. Lorraine began attending the Love of Jesus Family Church in Orange, NJ, where she quickly endeared everyone she met in the congregation. Lorraine has moved on to her final destination after having left love and kindness wherever she went.

Lorraine is survived by her: son, Gregory and his wife, Ava; granddaughters, Karima, Lateefah and Fatima Mathews and a host of great-grandchildren and relatives including Shareef Wilkinson, Sylvia Silva, Amir and Anaiya Wilkinson.