Jean Matthews Freeman

Jean Matthews Freeman, widow of Barney Lynn Freeman Jr., M.D., died Monday, April 7, 2014, at her home on Kiawah Island. Her Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth Street at 2:00 p.m. Interment, Magnolia Cemetery at 4:00 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in Hanahan Hall. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL.

Jean was born June 14, 1924, in Charleston, SC, daughter of the late Elsa Bargmann Matthews and Howard Lynn (Matty) Matthews. She graduated from Memminger High School and then graduated from the College of Charleston as salutatorian. Jean was a gifted pianist, and was a guest artist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra at age 16. She enjoyed reading and needlework. Her baskets of homemade soup or camellias from her garden helped many a sick friend feel better. She also learned to fly her husband's small airplane. She was devoted to her husband and her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jean was also a loyal member of Grace Episcopal Church where she served on the altar guild, taught Sunday school and chaired the Music Committee.

She is survived by two sons, Barney Lynn Freeman, III, M.D., (Jacqueline) of Germantown, TN, and Douglas Kirk Freeman (Patricia) of Jacksonville, FL.; a daughter, Elsa F. McDowell (Simms) of Charleston; grandchildren, Meghan Freeman Medford (William), Kerry Freeman Curtis (Paul), both of Germantown, TN, Charlotte McDowell Martin (Ward) of Raleigh, NC, Jean Matthews McDowell of Charleston, SC, Dorothy Freeman Self (Thomas) of Greenville, SC, and Nan Albert Freeman of Jacksonville, FL; five great-grandchildren and a brother, Clay Matthews.

She was predeceased by her grandson, Barney Lynn (Chip) Freeman IV and two brothers, Lynn and Dale Matthews.

Memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401 or Jean Matthews Freeman Music Scholarship at the College of Charleston, Department of Music, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC, 29242.