The Shadow
Ada Tindell Mattox
On Friday, November 8, 2024, Ada Tindell Mattox, 91, slipped though the doorway we call death to claim the place in Heaven she reserved so long ago, at the Brian Center Health and Rehab in Low Moor.
Ada was born in Knox County, Tennessee, November 30, 1932, the fifth and youngest daughter of Samuel Franklin Tindell and Nettie Jane Jackson Tindell.
Ada attended and graduated from Knox Central High School in Fountain City Tennessee and Carson Newman Collage (now University, a Baptist school in Jefferson City, Tenn) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and awarded her certificate in teaching. She continued her education at Carver School of Missions and Social Work and hen on to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. It was there Ada met a young theological student in his senior year and decided to accept his proposal that conferred a “Mrs.” degree rather than completing the second year of her “MSW” program.
With her pastor husband she moved to Bedford County, Virginia where he pastored Shady Grove and Mt Zion Churches and she began her career in education as she taught English and French at Stewartsville High School (now part of Staunton River High School). As God called, the family moved to Franklin Street Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA, Friendship Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, and finally to Clifton Forge Baptist Church in Clifton Forge, VA. During these years Ada was active in her churches and tutored many individual students within these congregations.
With her husband, Ada adopted three children and produced one (without having to provide character references). With the beginning of the family, Ada elected to stay home for eighteen years to be “mom” and care for the family. During this time, she continued to serve her church and was a part of many community groups. When her oldest child when to college, and the youngest went to kindergarten, she returned to education at Clifton Forge Elementary School culminating her career at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College employed in the Achievement Center teaching developmental English. Ada’s proclaimed passions were: her walk with God, her family, and her students.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William C. Mattox, Jr.; four sisters and their mates, and one son, Joel.
She is survived by her sons, Larry Mattox (Kathy) of Louisa, Nathan Mattox (Mendy) of Murrells Inlet; one daughter, Melissa Mattox of Clifton Forge; eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 2:00PM in the Chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend Jim Collie officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6:00PM to 8:00PM.
Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge is handling the arrangements.
To send condolences to the family online, please visit www.nicelyfuneralhome.com
