Hattie Bell Matthews Sears was born in Slagle, WV on May 23, 1941 to William and Bessie Matthews. Hattie was the third of four children in this union. Her parents were married twice; she was a part of a large extended family since there were four children in each union. Hattie grew up in a small mining town, and her father was a coal miner. In Slagle, everyone knew each other, worked together, had fun together, and went to church together. There was no bickering, no fighting, and no prejudice or segregation in this town. Hattie was educated at Aracoma Grade School and graduated from Aracoma High School. She was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated third in her class of forty-five.
Hattie’s father passed away three days after her 11th birthday. From an early age, she was always helping others. In fact, after her father’s death, she took over her mother’s house, doing the cleaning, laundry, etc. She also learned to cook and bake at an early age.
In the fall of 1952, the family relocated to a home they owned in Whitman, WV. Hattie was very active in her hometown church and Sunday school, The Morning Star Baptist Church, where her father was a deacon.
Hattie married at an early age. She and her family relocated to New Jersey for about eight months and then to Fayetteville, NC where her husband Ray Sears was stationed in the army at Fort Bragg.
Her children, Dr. Charlena Sears and Mr. Kevinne Sears, were educated in North Carolina Public School System until 1971 when they relocated to Newark, NJ. This was a very difficult time, with so many adjustments and an overwhelming amount of change.
In New Jersey, Hattie worked in retail at Valley Fair and McCrory’s for twenty-five years.
Hattie joined Clear View Baptist Church on the second Sunday of December 1972. She had been a very active and dutiful member since. For many years, she was a member of the Missionary Society and Usher Board, served as Church Secretary, and taught Sunday School.
Hattie enjoyed helping others, always calling to check on them or doing things to make them feel better. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Hattie began nursing school in 1994. She was so happy when she received her license. Hattie retired from St. Barnabas Health Care in 2007.
Following her retirement, she traveled back and forth between Colorado and New Jersey to spend time with both of her children. In Fort Morgan, CO, she volunteered at the Senior Center and was employed at Edward’s Right Price Market for several years. Hattie made an impact wherever she went. She was well known for her banana bread.
On January 5, 2025, Hattie passed away surrounded by family. She was predeceased in death by her parents, William and Bessie Matthews, paternal grandparents, son, Kevinne Sears, maternal grandparents, six brothers–James, Howard, Oscar, John, Joe, and Melvin–and five sisters–-Katherine, Mary, Claudia, Willie Mae. She leaves to mourn her daughter, Dr. Charlena Sears, Montclair, NJ, granddaughters–Jazlyn Raggio, Berkeley CA (Louis), Angela Sears, Ft Morgan, CO (Eddie), Shaina Downing, Parker, CO, Sylvia Lyons, Aurora, CO (Adrian), Flamay Gallegos, Pueblo, CO, Daisy Quezada, Ft Morgan, CO–grandson Kevin Sears, Jr, Ft Morgan, CO, 12 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 14th from 11-1 PM at Heer Mortuary in Fort Morgan with a funeral service following at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery.