Debra Matthews’ funeral this afternoon was meant to be a “celebration of her life, her labor and her love,” said officiant the Rev. Paul McDaniel.

Ms. Matthews, 58, served on the Hamilton County Board of Education for 10 years. She died early Sunday at Memorial Hospital.

The service, at Ms. Matthews’ longtime home church, Second Missionary Baptist, focused on how she gave of herself to family, friends and community.

“(Debra) died because her body was broken, broken in the service of giving what she had,” Mr. McDaniel said. “And she gave it without reservation.”

Several hundred people packed into the church on East 3rd Street to listen to classmates, cousins, elected officials and friends remember Ms. Matthews through words and music.

Immediately after her funeral, she was buried at Forest Hills Cemetery.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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