On October 13, 2025, God welcomed Mattie Mae Byrd Upton home to join those loved ones who preceded her in death. Mattie Mae Byrd was born in Woodbury, Arkansas on May 23, 1918, and enjoyed life for 107 years. She was the fourth child born to Jesse Bradley Byrd and Isabel Stringfellow Byrd. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Floyd, Lloyd, Mary Lee, and Jesse Bradley (J.B.) While still a young girl, the family moved to Bearden where Mattie went to school and graduated from Bearden High School in 1935. She joined the Methodist Church in Bearden when she was nine years old and remained committed to the United Methodist Church for the remaining years of her life.

When Mattie was 11 years old, she went to work at the only department store in Bearden. She worked from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. many days and was paid $1.50 for that day. She often mentioned how she bought her mother a big box of candy for Mother's Day one time and paid 50 cents for it!

Mattie was a lady who lived life to the fullest. As a result of her travels and living in various locations, she had a driver's license from six different states: Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, California, Texas and Arkansas. She made friends wherever she lived, and enjoyed her friends throughout her life. While living in Shreveport, LA, she worked for the Brewster Company where she started as a bookkeeper, but rose to the position of junior accountant. She moved to Camden in 1960 to be closer to her family, and worked for Camden Furniture Company in accounting and payroll.

In early 1961, Mattie's brother, J.B., introduced her to J.C. Upton. On March 17,1961, she married J.C. Upton in St. Mark's Methodist Church (which at that time was located in the Jewish Synagogue). With their union, Mattie gained a new title, that of second mother to J.C.'s daughters, Dinah and Betsy, and, within a year's time, became a grandmother, too! This was just the beginning, since by the time of her death at age 107, she was the grandmother to seven, great-grandmother to eighteen, and great-great grandmother to eight!

Mattie was active in many local organizations. She was a member, and eventually president, of Camden Junior Auxiliary, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star having served as Worthy Matron of Eastern Star during the 1930's, a member of the Camden Country Club where she played golf; played in three different bridge clubs, playing both duplicate bridge and party bridge. She often scored high or second high at the bridge table. She and J.C. were involved in the Couples Class at First United Methodist Church in Camden and were dedicated members of the Couples Class when the class had 104 members. At the time of her death, Mattie was the only remaining member of that class!

Mattie is survived by her daughters-of-the-heart and their spouses, Dinah and Ray Weable, Betsy and Jim Etz; grandchildren: Rhonda Simorka, Laura and Everett Geis, Kevin and Cheyenne Weable, Blair and Leslie Etz, Brett and Angie Etz, Brian and Jackie Etz, and Beth and Justin Johnson; great-grandchildren: Miranda and Scott Miceli, Lauren and Matt Bode, Micah and Hannah Gierse, Hannah Simorka, Taylor and Jason Jarrette, Reagan Schwab, Jaycie and Charley Wiles, Macey and Cody Rollins, Tram Weable, Hope Weable, Bradley and Chloe Etz, Hayden Etz, Parker Etz, Avery Etz, Lily Etz, Stella Etz, Tucker Johnson and Caroline Johnson. There are, also, eight great-great grandchildren ranging in age between 16 years and 1 year old. Surviving nephews are David and Dianne McDonald, Brad and Sue Byrd, Joe Bradley Judd, and Bob Garrett. The family recognizes the wonderful, dedicated caretakers that provided Mattie with love and care. They are Carolyn Toney, Betha Weaver, Veronica Sumler, and Judy McLelland. Before her death, Mattie offered to adopt all four of these trusted caretakers.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 20, at First United Methodist Church in Camden at 10 a.m. with the funeral following at 11 a.m. at the church with Rev. Buddy Ratliff and Rev. Beth Waldrup presiding. Burial will follow in Camden Memorial Park under the direction of Proctor Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to The Food Pantry at First United Methodist Church in Camden or the Dinah Weable Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, P.O. Box U, Waxahachie, TX 75168.