Betty Mozelle Sturkie

Betty Mozelle Matthews Sturkie

New Holland, SC—A celebration of life service for Mrs. Betty Mozelle Matthews Sturkie, age 87, will be held 12:00 pm on Saturday February 28, 2026, at Cole Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Virgil Parsons officiating. Interment will follow in the New Holland Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Eric Sturkie, Matthew Sturkie, Michael Sturkie, Chase Sturkie, Drew Murphy, and Jeffrey Padgett. Mrs. Sturkie entered into rest on Tuesday February 24, 2026, at her residence. She was the beloved wife of the late Mr. Allen Guss Sturkie and a daughter to the late Mr. Laverne Matthews and the late Mrs. Bessie Cook Matthews Gay. Mrs. Sturkie was a native and lifelong resident of New Holland. She was a Christian and a member of New Holland Pentecostal Holiness Church. During her younger years, she used to sing alongside her husband at church. Mrs. Sturkie loved working and keeping herself busy. She worked for the Graniteville Company Hickman Division for thirty years. She also worked as a machinist for FMC, retiring after twenty years of service. She enjoyed working in her garden in her younger years. She also enjoyed crocheting and sewing, and made many blankets, quilts, afghans, toboggans, and she embroided tablecloths for herelf and her family. She also spent a lot of time fishing with her family. Mrs. Sturkie loved to travel and go camping. She and her husband took many trips around the U.S., and even drove to Alaska and back over the course of a three month trip. One of her favorite things to do was host family gatherings. She enjoyed hosting for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many fish fries over the years. She was the matriarch and a cornerstone of her family. She was sharp and witty, and could either put you in your place or give you a laugh. She was loved by her friends and family and will be deeply missed. Survivors include: three sons Mark (Marie) Sturkie, Wagener, SC, Derrick Sturkie, Wagener, SC, and Chris (Paula) Sturkie, Wagener, SC; two brothers Charles (Cheryl) Matthews, Aiken, SC, and Jimmy (Darnell) Gay, Vaucluse, SC; three sisters Clarence Mae Elizabeth “Liz” Williford, New Holland, SC, Carolyn Enlow, New Holland, SC, and Cindy (Carl) Cole, Aiken, SC; five grandchildren Matthew (Leslie) Sturkie, Emily (Drew) Murphy, Michael Sturkie, Kasci (Jeffrey) Padgett, and Eric (Ashley) Sturkie; twelve great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Sturkie was preceded in death by: her step-father John Owen Gay; and two brothers-in-law Ray Williford and James “Junior” Enlow. A visitation with the family will take place one hour before the service at COLE FUNERAL HOME 1544 UNIVERSITY PKWY (118 BYPASS) AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-7175. The family would like to express their gratitude to Ruth Keenan, Tiffany Colyer, Tabitha Smith, and her sister Carolyn Enlow for their excellent care of Mrs. Sturkie. Please sign the online registry at www.colefuneralhomeinc.net.