Obituary

Merle Pounds Matthews

September 15, 1930 - July 28, 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Merle Pounds Matthews of Varnado, on July 28, 2025, at the age of 94.

Merle was born on September 15, 1930, in Magnolia, Mississippi, to the late Albert and Olive Pounds. She attended school in Progress, Mississippi. She and her husband moved to Varnado in 1959, where they were lifelong residents and active in the church for many years. Merle was a wife, a mother and a homemaker as well as an employee of the Angie Post Office, in which she retired from after 22 years. Everyone that knew her, adored her. Merle had the heart of an Angel.

After 42 years of marriage, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald O. Matthews, a son, Craig Matthews and a daughter, Barbara Wascom.

She is survived by her sons, Charles and Bennie Matthews of Varnado, 2 daughters, Brenda (Roy) Warren of North Carolina and Donna Matthews Edwards of Varnado, 5 grandchildren, Dustin and Shaun Brauner of Virginia, Jonathan Edwards of Biloxi, Ms., Jennifer (Matt) Pounders of Angie and Britney (Jacob) Perrin of Franklinton. She also leaves behind 6 great grandchildren, Taylor, Brantley, Alyanna, Wyatt, Loghan and Ronan.

Visitation will be at the Brown McGehee Funeral Home in Bogalusa, La on July 31, 2025, from 5PM-9PM. The visitation will resume Friday, August 1, 2025 at 9AM until time of service at 10AM, with Randy “Country” Seal officiating the service. Entombment will follow at the Garden Crypt Mausoleum at the Hollywood Cemetery in McComb, Mississippi.

The family would like to thank Pulse Hospice of Franklinton for the care and attention given to their mother in her last weeks, and Brown McGehee Funeral Home for their compassion shown thus far.