ELLENDALE - Mattie Ruth Hurst transitioned peacefully at her home in Ellendale on Saturday, March 14, 2020. "Mat", as she was affectionally called, was born in Post Oak, North Carolina on June 8, 1932, to Matthew Guy Becton and Floretta Koonce.
Mattie was an avid cook, seamstress and homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and listening to country music. She had a very sweet, caring and humble spirit. As an active Jehovah's Witness for the majority of her life, she enjoyed fellowshipping with her brothers and sisters who attended the Georgetown, DE Kingdom Hall.
Mattie was a loving and devoted wife to her husband, Othar Thomas Hurst, until his death in May 2015. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Gloria G. Thayer; granddaughter, Nicole Kuforiji; grandson, William C.T. Hopkins; brother, Ray Becton; and sisters, Velma White, Doris Reynolds and Delores Becton.
Mattie was loved by many and leaves behind to cherish her memories sons, Alex Becton, of Dover, Milford Becton, of Dover, Otha Hurst, of Ellendale and Wilbert Hurst, of Union, Fla.; daughters, Deena Farrington (Johnny), of Lincoln, Rosalyn Ingram (John) of Covington, Ga., Virginia Atkinson, of Kinston, N.C., Rita Hurst, of Seaford and Rochelle Moore (Marshall) of Lafayette, La.; a brother, Herbert Becton of Sacramento, Calif.; a sister, Arria Bell Roots of Sacramento, Calif.; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, a great-great grandchild, nieces, nephews and friends.
Due to the State's mandated gathering restrictions associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), a funeral was not held. Friends and family paid their final respects during a viewing that was held on Friday, March 20, 2020 at Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Milford. A burial was held at the Sussex County Veteran's Cemetery in Millsboro where she was privately laid to rest with her husband. A memorial service honoring the life of Mattie will be scheduled at a later date.