Mattie Martin

Mattie Wimberley Martin

February 2, 1928 – September 8, 2021

Opelousas – Every day she checked the obituaries to see if she was in them. She is surely laughing today seeing her name. Mattie Lee Wimberley Martin, “Mamee” to so many, passed away in her home on the Kennerson Hills in the early morning hours of September 8, 2021. One of her adopted granddaughters said of her passing at dawn, “it’s so she could get there in time to make pancakes for Jesus.”

Mattie celebrated her 93rd birthday on February 2, 2021. She was a native of her beloved Church Point, but lived most of her adult life in Opelousas. She loved taking drives to Church Point with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to point out the homes of her family and friends and share stories of her youth.

She was a parishioner of St. Landry Catholic Church for over 70 years and a past member of the Bereavement Committee. She was a devoted daughter of the Blessed Mother and to praying the Rosary.

Anyone who knew her was fed by her at some point, whether it was seafood gumbo or roast and rice and gravy or pancakes and bacon, and no one ever ate enough to her liking. No matter how much you ate, she was offended if you didn’t have one more serving. She used to say that people who make their own roux are just “playing Cajun” because anyone who really knows how to cook just uses ten spoonfuls of Savoie’s.

She spent most of her life taking care of the people she loved, feeding them, caring for them when they were sick, and rocking babies. She also enjoyed preserving her family legacy through tending for the heritage plants she had around her home that came from all sides of her family and many generations before.

In her younger years, she and her husband Jim loved to travel in their RV with their camping buddies. She enjoyed serving afternoon coffee and fig cake for anyone who stopped by on a tray from Mt. Rushmore, a souvenir from one of her favorite RV adventures. She cherished the many years she hosted her Wimberley crew for Easter dinner and egg “pacqueing” and was always up for cooking supper for “the old shop men.”

She is survived by three daughters, Jacqueline L. “Jackie” Martin of Opelousas; Janet Martin Guidry and husband, Jude of Opelousas; and Melanie Ryals and husband, Rick of Little Rock, AR; four grandchildren, Julie Guidry Laperouse and husband Paul, Brent Ryals and wife Helen, Andre Guidry, and Kat Ryals and husband Blake Phillips; six great-grandchildren, Annie Grace Laperouse, Peyton Laperouse, Beckett Laperouse, Gentry Laperouse, Russ Ryals, and baby girl Ryals; her dog Ginger and cat Midnight; her caretakers Sandra Nash, Mary Monroe, Betty Harrison, and Diane Landry; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, and adopted children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Edward Martin; her parents, Joseph “Jack” Curtis Wimberley and Dora David Wimberley; seven brothers, Dave “Lou” Wimberley, Lee “Blanc” Wimberley, Woodrew “Mack” Wimberley, Percy “Paz” Wimberley, Pershing “Pete” Wimberley, Harris “Tee” Wimberley, and Harold Wimberley; and five sisters, Lydia “Nanan” W. Stelly, Una W. Theriot, Isabel “Kat” W. Thibodeaux, Azelie “Deanie” W. Darbonne, and her twin sister, Dora W. Latiolais.

Funeral services will be held for Mattie Wimberley Martin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 12, 2021, in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel at Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas. Deacon Doug Wimberley, her nephew, will officiate the services. Rite of Committal and interment will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2021, starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel in the Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas. A Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Andre Guidry, Paul Laperouse, Barry Darbonne, Larry Darbonne, Keith Latiolais, Brent Ryals, and Timothy Darbonne. Honorary pallbearers will be Burl Clark, Russel Ryals, Billy King, and Kent Latiolais.

As many of you know, Mattie collected aluminum can tabs for years to donate to St. Jude. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to St. Jude.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.