MATTIE E. WELCH

Her Life Story

Mattie Eunice Storey Welch was born June 4,1930 in Talladega, Alabama to the late John R. and Mattie Era Parker Story. She graduated from Jenifer High School in Munford, Alabama. She was baptized at an early age at Union Springs Baptist Church in Talladega, Alabama. She had cherished memories of her nine siblings growing up on the farm.

Mattie relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1951. During that time, she was employed at Ft. Benjamin Harrison where she met Matthew Welch Jr., which to whom she was united in Holy Matrimony on September 18, 1954. From this union, they were blessed with three daughters and one son.

Mattie had many jobs, including St Paul Nursing Home where she worked for many years. She retired from IUPUI in 2000. Mattie cherished time spent with her children and found great joy in nurturing and caring for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many other children whose lives she touched. She never missed out on preparing meals for family gatherings and for each holiday.  Anyone that came to her home was welcome. She always was always known to speak her mind. She was affectionately known as “Ma” to those who knew her.

Mattie loved and was an active and dedicated member of Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, which she joined after her relocation to Indianapolis. There she served on the usher board and sang in the church choir. Her favorite scripture was Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” She ended each phone conversation with “Keep looking up, there's a brighter day ahead.”

Mattie departed this life on March 1, 2026 at the age of ninety-five years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-seven years, Matthew Welch Jr., her parents, John R and Mattie E Story, her siblings John R. Story Jr, William L. Story, George W. Story, Will P. Storey, Lillian Mighty, and Izola Story.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Beverly Franklin (David), Brenda Caudle (Francis) Ray A. Welch, and Carol Bond (Randy); sisters, Sallie M. Elston, Rosa May Truss; brother, James E Story; grandchildren, Steven Forte, Kemoni Myers, Brandi Jenkins (Aaron), Aaron Offutt, Melanie Davis (Jonathan), Ashley Bond, Maya Caudle, Alexis Bond; eleven great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

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