Joseph William DeMatthews

Joey,

You r so missed by your family but your Mom's sadness breaks my heart. Unfortunatley, I understand.

Send her luv Joey.

 Bridget a Mom

Hi Debbi,

I know you miss Joseph as I miss my son Keith Elwart. They are so young to have left us. The stress we have inside not many people know about that unless they have had a loss like we did. I know our son's are flying together, sending us there Love. Family and Friend's tell me that it will get better with time. I'm so sick of hearing that. I know for me I never will. Everyday the tear's are right behind my eye's waiting to come out. Our Baby's are with us everyday! Take Care of You!

Love Bridget!!!!

You are Everything To Somebody
Right now at this very minute-----------


someone
is very proud of you


someone
is thinking of you
someone
cares about you
someone
misses you


someone
wants to talk to you
someone
wants to be with you
someone
hopes you aren't in trouble



someone
is thankful for the support you have
provided
someone
wants to hold your hand

someone
hopes everything turns out all right
someone
wants you to be happy



someone
wants you to find them


someone
is celebrating your successes
someone
wants to give you a gift
someone
think you ARE a gift
someone
hopes you are not too cold, or too hot
someone
wants to hug you


someone
loves you
someone
wants to lavish you with small gifts
someone
admires your strength


someone
is thinking of you and smiling


someone
wants to be your shoulder to cry on
someone
wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun


someone
thinks the world of you
someone
wants to protect you
someone
would do anything for you
someone
wants to be forgiven
someone
is grateful for your forgiveness


someone
wants to laugh with you about old times


someone
remembers you and wishes you were there


someone
needs to know that your love is unconditional



somebody
values your advice
someone
wants to tell you how much they care
someone
wants to stay up watching old movies with
you


someone
wants to share their dreams with you


someone
wants to hold you in their arms
someone
wants YOU to hold them in your arms
someone
treasures your spirit


someone
wishes they could STOP time because of
you


someone
can't wait to see you
someone
wishes that things didn't have to change


someone
loves you for who you are


someone
loves the way you make them feel
someone
wants to be with you
someone
hears a song that reminds them of you
someone
wants you to know they are there for you
someone
is glad that you're their friend
someone
wants to be your friend
someone
stayed up all night thinking about you


someone
is alive because of you


someone
is wishing that you would notice them
someone
wants to get to know you better


someone
believes that you are their soul mate


someone
wants to be near you
someone
misses your guidance and advice



someone
values your guidance and advice



someone
has faith in you

someone
trusts you
someone
needs you to send them this letter


someone
needs your support
someone
needs you to have faith in them
someone
needs you to let them be your friend

To Wayne, Deborah, and all of Joey's family,
I check your site often as I have also lost my son and I wanted to write this Easter holiday and let you know that I am thinking of you and saying a prayer that your pain will ease somehow. I also know that it won't because I feel the same pain and there is nothing that will take it away. I just want you to know that I think about you so much and I just know Joey and Chris are waiting for us, so please don't lose your faith.
Pam White( in memory of Chris Dewberry)

I saw this poem and thought of you.....

I said, “God, I hurt.”
And God Said, “I know.”
I said, “God, I cry a lot.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you tears.”
I said, “God, I am so depressed.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you sunshine.
I said, “God, life is so hard.”
And God said, “That is why I gave you loved ones."
I said, “God, my loved one died.”
And God said, “So did mine.”
I said, “God, it is such a loss.”
And God said, “I saw mine nailed to a cross.”
I said, “But God, your loved one lives.”
And God said, “So does yours.”
I said, “God, where are they now?”
And God said, “Mine is on my right,
and yours is in the light.”
I said, “God, it hurts.”
And God said, “I know"


God Bless You

distant cousin you didn't know

Dear Debbie,
I just happened across Joey's site and want to let you know how sorry I am. I did not know Joey but I can see how much you are grieving for him. I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and your family and hope you somehow find peace very soon.
your cousin,
Barbara

Dear Mrs. DeMatthews - - After reading Joey's site again last night, and all your tributes to him, I have prayed for you and for your healing. In my praying, I felt God telling me that I had to say something to try to help you. You have a wonderful family who needs you, and who loves you deeply. Joey would want you to still live. Your family will not be able to begin to heal until YOU start living again. I know how you are feeling; I lost my son (16 years old) also, 2 1/2 months after you lost yours. I miss him every moment of every day, and not a day has gone by that I have not cried, that I have not yearned for him. But like you, I have other children (who are also grown) who still need me. I know that if I did not find a way to survive this nightmare, when I arrive in Heaven my son would be very disappointed with me and he would say, "Mom, WHAT where you doing????" Please, please please . . . try to go on. Get professional help if you can't do it on your own, but don't spend what is left of your life not living. That is a sin in itself. And it is very disrespectful of what Joey's life meant. Joey lived every minute to its fullest. You should too.

God Bless you and your family.

 Mrs. DeMatthews, PLEASE Read and listen to these words.

"To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me:
When I am gone, release me, let me go - I have so many things to see and do. You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears. Be thankful for our many beautiful years.
I gave to you my love, you can only guess how much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown. But now its time I traveled on alone.
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must. Then let your grief be comforted by trust. Its only for a time that we must part, so bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on... so if you need me call and I will come. Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near. And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear all my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone, I'll greet you with a smile and say...'Welcome Home!'"

Linda Elliott

Dear Mrs. DeMatthews and Joey's Family:

I have visited Joey's website before but it has been some time ago. Throughout the last months I always think about the beautiful people that touched me in some way, when I visit my daughter, Rhonda's Mem Memorial. You and Joey have been one of those people.

I have felt everything you write about Mrs. DeMatthews and do not know what has kept me moving and living. My daughter also died unexpectedly and that is the worst kind of shock. That very horror is the thing that keeps us so heartbroken. We werent able to tell our beautiful children goodbye and hold them to protect them. When my baby was small I rocked her to sleep every time she laid down, afternoon and night. Every day! And yet when she took her last breath she was without me, that is what hurts so much. After so much hurt, tears and praying, someone has told me that each person does not leave this earth alone, we are helped by other loved ones through the passage. At birth, we come in alone but at death, we have others to help us. I find comfort in that since I hope to be reunited with all of my loved ones who now live in Heaven. We will be there in our time.

I will tell you that I feel Rhonda with me always because I will let nothing take her away. I know that I have to continue to live in this world until it is my time. That is hard to want to do but it is what God wants me to do. It doesnt keep me from yearning for my daughter, because mothers will always do that, but I have to live well until we can be together again.

My Christmas wish for you is that "all the days of all the years that God has still in store, be filled with hope of heart and peace of mind and bless you more and more".

Sincerely,
In eternal memory of Rhonda Estelle Elliott Gray

To the DeMatthews family,
As the holiday season and the anniversary of Joey's death is fast approaching I wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. My son Chris Dewberry also passed away this year and I understand how completely overwhelming this pain is. I also understand at this point there are no words that will help, but I come to your site often and I do feel your pain. At nine months or a year they all say the pain will get better but we know that is wrong. In fact it continues to get worse and I guess that is because in the beginning your body cannot absorb and process what has happened. Slowly the numbness wears off and the realization that our babies are gone knocks the wind out of you. Yes, I do understand what you are going through and if you should ever need to e-mail me directly it would be fine. Please hang in there and I will be thinking about you each day.
Pam White

Someone praying for you and your Joe,

I have read your tribute to you son Joe and I wanted to let you know that I am praying for you everyday I know things must be hard for you right now. No words can ease your pain or heartache but just know that people are praying for you and your son. I hope you are doing well I was concerend to see your messages have slowed down to Joe. Your tribute to your son make me appreciate everyday I have with my family and I think others will say the same. Your pain is not looked over or forgotten it is a lesson for us all to know that Tommorrow is not promised for anyone. Take care of yourself.

 Passerby from Chicago

To the Bereaved Family of Joseph DeMatthews:
My heart is aching for you all; no words are adequate enough to describe the pain you're going through.I feel the same pain like you 'coz I just lost my daughter almost 3 months now.Her name is Krystine Lorenzana-Cabalfin; 25yrs.old; and left behind 3 very young beautiful kids (2boys-5& 4yrs.old and a baby girl who just turned 1 y/o 2weeks ago)......May the Good Lord bless you and keep you comforted knowing that your Joseph is with the angels in heaven-watching you,
wishing you only happy lives for those he left behind.You'll be in my thoughts and prayers...GOD LOVES YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello

My name is Regina A. Myrick and I am sorry to hear about the death of your dear loved one. My daughter, Ra’Gene passed away 6 years ago at the age of 5. The pain, grief and feelings of helplessness can seem unbearable at times.

However, the bible helped me to understand how Jehovah God and Jesus Christ feel about death and the promises that were made about the resurrection.

The bible’s resurrection accounts give us a sure hope (John 11:39-44). Jehovah God is eager to bring the dead back to life (Job 14:13-15) and All of those in the common grave of mankind will be resurrected (John 5:28,29).

I would love to mail you a bible-based brochure (free of charge) that helps me cope with my daughter’s death. Please email me if you are interested. The brochure is entitled: “When someone you loves dies.”

My email address is reginamyrick2003@yahoo.com

i did not know this man, but i do know that live is to short.. i recently lost my best friend and cousin right in front of my eyes... from what i read he was a great man, and i hope u all realize that its not saying good bye but see u later.. i'm sorry for ur lost... but i lost my friend ryan keith uphold... may joseph william dematthews name forever live on

HI MY SON AT THE AGE OF 9 ALSO DIED. THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. NOV. 26 2004. IT'S STILL SO UNBELIEVABLE! I JUST CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD TO GET MY THROUGH. I PRAY HE ALSO GET YOU THROUGH. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. IF YOU EVER WANT TO VISIT MY SON'S SITE HIS NAME IS BRANDON WAYNE CREASEY DEC. 9 1994-NOV.26 2004. YOUR IN MY PRAYERS!

Words for a grieving Parent to live by

I will grieve as much and for as long as I feel like grieving, and I will not let others put a time table on my grief.

I will grieve in whatever way I feel like grieving, and I will ignore those who try to tell me what I should or should not be feeling and how I should or should not be behaving.

I will cry whenever and wherever I feel like crying, and I will not hold back my tears just because Someone else feels I should be "brave" or "getting better' or "healing by now."

I will talk about my child as often as I want to, and that I will not let others turn me off just because they can't deal with their own feelings.

I will not expect family and friends to know how I feel, understanding that one who has not lost a child cannot possibly know how it feels.

I will not blame myself for my child's death, and I will constantly remind myself that I did the best job of parenting I could possibly have done. But when feelings of guilt are overwhelming, I will remind myself that this is a normal part of the grief process and it will pass.

I will not be afraid or ashamed to seek professional help if I feel it is
necessary.

I will commune with my child at least once a day in whatever way feels comfortable and natural to me, and that I won't feel compelled to explain this communication to others or to justify - or even discuss it - with them.

I will try to eat sleep and exercise every day in order to give my body strength it will need to help me cope with my grief.

I will know that I am not losing my mind and I will remind myself that loss of memory, feelings of disorientation, lack of energy and a sense of vulnerability are all normal parts of the grief process.

I know that I will have to heal for my other children, even though it will take a long time I will let myself heal and not feel guilty about feeling better.

I will remind myself that the grief process is circuitous-that is, I will not make steady upward progress. And when I find myself slipping back into the old moods of despair and depression, I will tell myself that 'slipping backward" is also a normal part of the grief process and these moods, too, will pass.

I will try to be happy about something for some part of every day, knowing that at first, I may have to force myself to think cheerful thoughts so eventually they can become a habit.

I will reach out at times and try to help someone else, knowing that helping others will help me to get over my depression.

Even though my child is dead, I will opt for life, knowing that is what my child would want me to do.

Thank You from one Grieving Parent to another for reading this.

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR ANGEL
Eugene L. Picco

 Tricia Millican Mother Denise

Dear Debbie,

 
Thank you for writting on my Daughter Tricia site I have visit your son Joseph site. I very soory for loss. I can see what a blessing you son is and how much you miss you and I know the feeling It is very hard I pray that God send you a very speacial Angel this thanksgiving.
Mr Picco Son's Site is on mem.com (Christopher Thomas Picco.)
Mr Picco wrote on my daughters site he sent some good help on greaving.
I have pasted it here for you I hope it is a help for you to.
May God God bless you and your family now and always
Tricia Mom Denise