Hayes-Virginia
It is in loving light that we announce the passing of Juanita Louise Matthews “Nita” on August 14, 2022, our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. At age 81 Nita still enjoyed nature, watching cowboys on tv, seeing a beautiful sunset and the music of Fats Domino was certainly her favorite. She had a smile that could light up a room and she never met a stranger.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Odelia Elizabeth Reints; husband, Albert Reints; her father, William Redin Matthews, and her brother, Billy Matthews.
For many years Nita was known and loved for her endless beautiful flower garden in the Hilton area of Newport News, Virginia. No one could mimic the extraordinary talent she had in the garden. Neighbors would come from everywhere to walk her yard and talk about flowers. She was also known to share these flowers with anyone that would have liked them. Her grandchildren were taught to look for snakes and other critters as they ran around her beautiful yard. She did volunteer work at the Virginia Living Museum. In the 1970’s she was an electrician in the Naval Shipyard in an industry that was comprised of mostly men. She was tough and taught her family those same traits. She could talk shop with most men she encountered. She was smart and had charisma. Nita was loved. She also expressed her love of God prior to her passing. She was a believer. Her love and laughter will carry on in the smiles of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Left to cherish her memory, her son, Marlin James Zimmerman and wife, Beth; daughter, Willow Belinda Decker and husband, Lloyd; son, Larry Dale Zimmerman and wife, Laura; grandchildren, Jeremy Zimmerman, Lisa Batten and husband, Michael, Kyle Jones, Ryan Jones and Dezaray Hall, Haily Decker, Kevin Decker, Kristopher Zimmerman, and Brendan Zimmerman. Great- grandchildren, Noah Zimmerman, Heaven Zimmerman, Codie Batten and wife, Michelle, Seth Batten and wife, Claire. Great-great-grandchildren, Paisley Batten, Emma Batten, Westin Batten, Rylee Jones, Davy Jones, and Jordy Jones.
An informal service will be held at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Suffolk VA on Sunday August 21, 2022 at 2 p.m. It was her wish that her ashes be put into the ground with her momma and daddy as her final resting place. The family requests no flowers, please.
Cremation Society of Virginia-Newport News assisted the family with arrangements.