Mattye Matilda Clayborne, 92, of Battle Creek, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Reflections Memory Care in Battle Creek. She was born May 31, 1925 in Albion, MI the daughter of Julius and Cornelia (Baxter) Gant. Mattye married Richard Clayborne, Sr. on February 20, 1949 in Albion. From this union, Mattye and Richard were blessed with five children, Richard Jr., Brian, Bret, Gerald, and Cheryl. Mattye worked as a Nursing Attendant for the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital for 30 plus years before her retirement. She was a member and missionary at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. Mattye and her husband Richard loved going on walks and going out to restaurants. Her children remember her always taking them to the park to play and to the roller rink to skate and what joy that brought her to watch her children in their element playing and laughing. Mattye enjoyed gardening and visiting with her friends and family. She loved decorating, especially when it came to the holidays. Mattye would have her house decorated both inside and out when it came to Christmas. She was a strong independent woman who loved her friends and family deeply.
She is survived by her children, Richard Clayborne Jr., Bret (Jeanette) Clayborne, and Cheryl (James) Clayborne-Williams; 10 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren; sister, Janet Geary; brothers, Ronald (Lorene) Gant and Leon Gant; favorite cousin, Lavata Jones; and her special friend, Jean Mackey.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Sr.; sons, Brian and Gerald Clayborne; daughter-in-law Cassundra Clayborne; sisters, Alice Thomas and Cornelia Miles; brothers, Julius, Cliff, and Herbert Gant; and sister-in-law, Gloria Gant.
Visitation will be held at the Mount Zion A.M.E. Church on Saturday, December 9, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM with the funeral service to follow at 12:00 PM with Rev. Douglas Banks officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI. Memorial tributes may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.