Verlene Mitchell Matthews

Verlene Mitchell Matthews passed away on November 4, 2021, after a long period of declining health.

Verlene was born on December 27, 1935 in Wake County, NC. She lived in the Fuquay-Varina area of Eastern NC until 1993 when she moved to Asheville to be near her family. She was predeceased by her parents, Ernest Vance Mitchell, Sr. and Mallie Ann Johnson Mitchell, brother Vance Mitchell, Jr. and sister Mallie Marie Walls.

Verlene is survived by her daughter, Joy Icenhower and her husband Ricky of Leicester, NC; grandson, Benjamin Icenhower and his wife Kathryn of Woodland Park, CO; one brother, Malcolm Mitchell and his wife Romaine of Charlotte; five nephews, and one niece, as well as her Arden Presbyterian Church family, Trinity View Retirement Community family, WNC Baptist Home family and Four Seasons Hospice family. The family wishes to extend their appreciation to all the healthcare providers that gave loving and compassionate care to Verlene.

Verlene was kind, fun and witty, and a bit of a character with a very dry sense of humor. She was valedictorian of her class and earned regional and national French awards. Verlene loved music and participating in church activities. She taught Sunday School and served as choir director of Baptist Grove Baptist Church in Eastern NC for 16 years. She sang in a church trio for as many years. Verlene enjoyed a career in insurance for 36 years, most of those years with Amica Insurance. After moving to Asheville Verlene volunteered at Arden Presbyterian Church, Mission Hospital and the Rathbun Center before her health declined. She was charitable and generous to anyone who needed help. She was very courageous, putting up a long fight with cancer.

A memorial service for Verlene will be held at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue on Saturday, November 13 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society in Verlene’s memory.