Willie B. (Matthews) Prince

MRS. Willie B. Prince

Funeral services for Willie B. Prince, 85, of Freeport will be Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at First St. Emanuel Baptist Church in Freeport, TX with Bishop C.E. Richardson, Sr., Officiating Guest Pastor from Corpus Christi, Texas and Pastor R.W. Griggs, Sr.  Burial will follow at Union Baptist Cemetery in Pledger, TX.

Willie B. Prince was born October 15, 1934 in Wharton, Texas and was the only daughter of James and Adel Matthews. She passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at CHI St. Luke Health Brazosport in Lake Jackson, Texas.

Willie B. Prince’s father and grandmother died, and her mother became very ill leaving her, a little 5-year old girl in the care of relatives.  She was raised over the years by various relatives who cared for her and loved her as their own because she was family.  Her father’s sister and her husband eventually took her in and raised her along with their six (6) children and she later became known to them as “B".  The relatives she knew as her cousins became her sisters and brothers: Erma Townsend Bryant (living); Bernice Townsend Anderson (deceased); Ruby Townsend Williams (living); Hillard Townsend Sr. (deceased); Leroy Townsend (deceased); Billy Jean Townsend (deceased).

Willie B. Matthews was swept off her feet by James Carlton Prince Sr. (known to many as “Pee Wee”).  They married on July 4, 1948 and remained married for 59 years until “Pee Wee” passed away on November 18, 2007.  She never remarried. In their union, they had 4 children.  She was a Nurse’s Aide at Brazosport Community Hospital until she retired.  She was a faithful member of First St. Emanuel Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor R.W. Griggs, Sr.  and a Mission Sister.  She loved going to church and would check regularly on family members and friends she had not seen in a while.  Also, she loved cooking, gardening, and shopping until she dropped.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Carlton Prince Sr.; her parents, James and Adel Matthews; her brother, Leon Harry Matthews and her grandson raised as a son, Keith Anthony Prince Sr.

She is survived by her children, James Carlton Prince II (Linda), DeSoto, TX, Barbara Jean Prince, Brazoria, TX; Elder Jerry Prince (Alma), DeSoto, TX and Jerrleen Prince Campbell (Arthur), Missouri City, TX; 15 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be at First St. Emmanuel Baptist Church in Freeport on Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. 

Due to Covid-19, the family is having a Private Ceremony in which to be in compliance with "social distancing" and full masks requirements.

The family will have the service videoed to provide online viewing later for those not able to attend the Celebration of Life Service. Also, the family is planning a Memorial Service at a later date following this Coronavirus.

Final arrangements entrusted to Dixon Funeral Home of Angleton. (979) 849-8800.

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