Mrs. Rachel Faye Matthews Conner, age 74, died Saturday, September 4, 2010 at her home following a long illness.

Mrs. Conner is a native of Martin County.  She was married to Linwood Franklin Conner Sr. on July 19, 1955 and they made their home in Aulander.  They enjoyed fifty-five years of marriage. To this marriage was born six wonderful children.

Mrs. Conner was a member of the Millennium Pentecostal Holiness Church.

She worked with her husband for some fifty years on the family farm; as well she graded peanuts for Golden Peanut Company of thirty-four years.  She was a loving and caring wife, grandmother and great grandmother.  Mrs. Conner truly devoted her life to her family.

Preceding her in death are her mother and father, Corey Leggett Matthews and Lloyd Latham Matthews; one sister, Janie Matthews; three brothers, Thomas, Gene and Alfred Ray Matthews; and one grandchild, Michael Robinson.

Survivors include her husband, Linwood Franklin Conner Sr. of the home; two daughters, Cynthia Conner Stephenson and her husband, David, of Dunn, NC and Melinda Conner Fowler and her husband, Jerry Lynn, of Aulander, NC; four sons, Linwood “Frankie” Conner Jr. and his wife, Nancy, David Conner and his wife, Lynne, Donnie Conner and his wife, Ellen, and Ronnie Conner and his wife, Wanda, all of Aulander, NC; one sister, Janice Riddick and her husband, Eddie, of Edenton, NC; and two brothers, Bobby Matthews and his wife, Minerva, of Aulander, NC and Jessie Matthews and wife, Jean, of Como, NC.  Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, Andy Robinson, Paula R. Sorrentine, Victoria Dixon, Lin and Daniel Conner, Matt and Nick Cobb, Kelsie and Clint Conner, Carl and Brittany Conner, Brandy Harris, Kristin Bowen and Tammi Griggs.  Also surviving are eight great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Monday, September 6, 2010 at the Millennium Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. Latham Taylor and Rev. Ronnie Conner officiating. The interment will follow at the Aulander Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Millennium Pentecostal Holiness Church, PO Box 416, Aulander, NC  27805 or University Hospice, 521 Meyer Street, Ahoskie, NC  27910.

Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.sykesfuneralservice.com