Elaine Matthews Morgan

Elaine Matthews Morgan, 76, passed away in Tallahassee, Florida on Monday, September 18, 2017 after an extended illness, which she fought with courage and tenacity.

Elaine was born in 1940 in Pensacola, Florida, to Carter Broward ("Doc") and Etna Louise Matthews, but in early childhood moved to Mobile, Alabama, where she remained a lifelong resident until relocating in 2016 to Tallahassee with her husband, Jack Wayne Morgan.

A graduate of Murphy High School, Elaine went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Alabama. Elaine’s post-collegiate residence in Mobile was briefly interrupted when her husband was stationed for a memorable and chilly four years at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. She taught there beginning in the early 1960s, and briefly in Montgomery in 1965. After her return to Mobile in 1966, Elaine made a lasting impact on her community by teaching elementary children at Nan Gray Davis, Semmes Elementary School, and UMS Preparatory School. Most of her career, from 1978 through her retirement in the mid-2000s, was spent at UMS teaching second grade—her favorite.

Elaine was a devoted member of Springhill Baptist Church, and took great comfort in her faith. Elaine had an active social life, loved entertaining, and was a consummate hostess. Among the many things for which she will be remembered, her amazing Christmas Eve gumbo and love of antiques are at the top of the list.

She was preceded in death by her identical twin sister, Linda Matthews. Elaine is survived by her husband; siblings Carter Broward Matthews, Jr. (wife Bille) and Katherine Perry (husband Mike); son David Wayne Morgan (wife Nancy); nieces and nephews; and two wonderful grandchildren.

Elaine will be laid to rest in the Tallahassee National Cemetery on Monday, September 25, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (5015 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32311). A memorial celebration of Elaine’s life will be hosted in Mobile in the months ahead, at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (1-800-259-4636; 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10017; or https://www.alzinfo.org/), Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee (1-800-772-5862; 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308; or https://www.bigbendhospice.org/), or Springhill Baptist Church (251-342-5320; 2 S. McGregor Ave. Mobile, AL 36608; or http://www.shbc.cc/).

Faith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (850-539-4300 or www.faithfuneralhome.com)