Mattie Lois Furlow was born on April 1st, 1928, in Antoine, AK to the union of Rommie and Claudine Dixon Brooks. On September 3rd, 2024, Mattie accepted GOD's gift of everlasting sleep, for the Bible says in Psa 4:8 "That I will both lie down in peace and sleep for you alone, oh LORD, make me dwell in safety".

Mattie loved the LORD all the days of her life. She accepted GOD early in life. First uniting with Clark County Baptist Church in Antoine, AK. She was a member of St. John Baptist Church before uniting with Spiritual Israel Church in 1978. She was actively involved in various activities at Spiritual Israel until she became ill.

Mattie married her late husband Eugene Furlow on December 25, 1949, in Antoine, AK. In 1959 they moved to Ypsilanti, MI. Mattie worked for various places before gaining employment at Ford Motor Co. She was a member of UAW 849 until she retired from Ford Motor Co. after 20 years of active employment.

She was preceded in death by her parents Rommie and Claudine (Dixon) Brooks; brother Bobbie Joe Brooks of Antoine, AK; sister Betty Joe Gentry (John Willie Gentry) of Flint, MI; Uncle Samuel Dixon (Beatrice) of Berkley, CA; mother-in-law Alberta Thomas; sister-in-law Grace Elma Jones (Vernell Jones) and her dear friend Australia Brown.

Mattie leaves to cherish her precious memory, son William Gilyard (Janice) of Ypsilanti, MI; stepdaughter Clarice Furlow Brown (Henry) of Lansing, MI; brother Paul Allen Brooks of Dallas, TX; sisters Ruby Cornbarker of Ypsilanti, MI and Shirley Lambert, of CA; and aunt Beatrice Dixon wife of uncle Samuel Dixon of CA. She also leaves behind 10 grandchildren, a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, spiritual church family, and other dear friends. Mattie loved them all and wants them to know that we will all meet again if "you keep the faith and fight the good fight" (2Tim).

A funeral service will be held 11 am Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Stark Funeral Professionals with family hour beginning at 10 am. The Wake will take place from 3-6 pm Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Mattie will be laid to rest in United Memorial Gardens, Plymouth.