Mattie R. Way died Jan. 28. The daughter of the late George and Lucy (Allen) Watkins, she was born in 1937 in Buckingham County, Va. She moved to New Jersey and joined the Union Baptist Church in Passaic, N.J. She later joined Christ Temple Baptist Church, founded by her parents. Mrs. Way was a member of the choir and Missionary Circle and adviser to the Junior Usher Board. She later moved her membership to the United Methodist Church, Orange, N.J., under the leadership of her son-in-law the Rev. Alfred McCray Jr. She moved to Covington to live with her daughter Kim and attended Spring Hill United Methodist. Mrs. Way loved her family. Cooking was one of her hobbies.

If you were hungry, she would feed you. She began her catering business in the early 1970s. She was preceded in death by parents and 16 siblings.

Surviving are son Paul Watkins, Paterson, N.J.; daughters Michelle Way (Kelly) Paterson, N.J., Yolanda Thomas (Leon), Decatur, Kim (the Rev. Alfred) McCray, Covington; grandchildren Maurice and Quaran Lennon, Mecca and Xavier Watkins, Tiffany Keemer, Kelly Alston, Travis and Bria Terrell, Isaiah, Micaiah and Semaiah McCray; 13 great-grandchildren; special great-granddaughter Na'Lashia Hasty whom she raised; godchildren Marlene Gooding (Lamont), Tamika McDuffy (Damon), Jason and Daneen Greenwood; special nieces and nephews Georgianna "Cook" (Henry) Mack, Ida Ruth "Ruth" (Ronald) Stokes, Wilhelmina "Mina" (Wilson) Medley, Susie Durham, Elizabeth (Elder Petro) Lamb, George "Sonny" Booker; close cousin Louis (Ester) Bolling; special friends Carnie P. Bragg Jr., James Brown, Betty Rhyme, the Rev. Estella Horne, Virginia Cohen, Carrie Mathis, Addie Jo White, Prentis Mackey, Arthine Frazier, Dorothy Knapp, Melonie Harwood, Elaine DeMarco, Janet Goodman; adopted sons and daughters Elder Kay (Bishop Herbert) Banks, Shirley (Edwin) McMillan, Linda (Walter) Gilchrist, Charlotte (Phillip) Wise, Bessie Freeman, Kelton Webb, Natasha (James) Sherman, Terry (Johnnie) Woodruff, Dr. Sallie Mills, Cassandra Mitchell, Carol (Ronald) McLaurin, Linda Harrington, Debora (Lee) Pittman; a host of nieces, nephews, adopted grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cousins, relatives, extended family and friends.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Feb. 8 at Grace United Methodist Church with the Rev. Matt Murphy and the Rev. Alfred McCray officiating. Interment followed at New Covington Cemetery, Covington.