Erline Madeline Hodgkinson Mathews

Erline Madeline Hodgkinson Mathews, 82, Loving wife of Donald W Mathews, Pickens, SC, died Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. She was born in Pensacola, Florida, on March 21, 1943, the third of four daughters born to Raymond Augustus Hodgkinson and Audrey Marie Kelly. She is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, by one sister, Penelope Ann Shirah (J.E., deceased), aunts, uncles, and cousins, dozens of nieces and nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. There are many more who, although not related by blood, considered her their aunt and referred to her as such. She loved them all as if they were family. Erline was predeceased by her parents, her oldest sister, Nancy Carroll McMahan, her husband, Rodney, and her younger sister, Edna Rae Roe (Raymond). Erline symbolized her dedication to Jehovah God as one of His Witnesses on April 11th, 1964. She was a member of the English Norris, South Carolina, Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses for 42+ years. Erline loved the mountains. She left Florida around 1968, and moved with friends to Boone, NC, where they volunteered their time teaching honest-hearted ones the Bible's simple truths regarding God's Kingdom by Christ Jesus. She was privileged to be part of the establishment of Boone's first congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Later, while still in Boone, Erline developed pneumonia, which damaged her lungs, and those ill effects lasted the rest of her life. This necessitated moving to Perry, Ga, where 2 of her sisters, Nancy and Edna, helped nurse Erline back to health. Erline relocated to Apopka, FL, in 1975. There, she met the love of her life and married Donald on February 21, 1976, in Lakeland, Florida. After seven years. Don and Erline left central Florida and moved to Liberty, SC, in May of 1983, then to Pickens, SC, in 1991, to be closer to the mountains that she loved. As an artist, Erline worked in varied art forms. These included making wedding cakes. She experimented wíth woodworking, making children's toys, benches, and many other wooden craft items. She also enjoyed painting natural landscapes. After moving to SC, she studied Faux finishing, going to Louisville, Ky to study under a master faux artist. She started a company, Fauxever Finishes, making wood columns look like marble, and library walls appear to be leather. After retiring, she began making jewelry. Erline's prime interest was always in helping others learn of God's wonderful promises outlined in His word, the Bible. After her illness progressed, she regularly shared her hope in the earthly resurrection promised by Jesus in John 5:28 and 29. We will have a memorial celebrating Erline's life, and highlighting her firm faith in the promise of the resurrection, as well as the promise for everlasting life in Paradise. That will be held Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at 4:30 PM, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 105 S Norris Dr, Norris, SC 29667. It will also be broadcast on Zoom. Meeting ID- 892 6723 2584. PW- 985037

Erline Madeline Hodgkinson Mathews

March 21, 1943 - November 24, 2025