Billie Sue Mathis

Billie Sue Mathis, age 89, of Waleska, GA passed away Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 AM, on Friday, December 19, 2025, from the Chapel of South Canton Funeral Home with Rev. Monty Watson officiating. Interment will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, December 18, 2025, and from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Friday, December 19, 2025 at South Canton Funeral Home.

Billie Mathis was passionate about the arts. Over her lifetime she sought to express the beauty of God's creation through various forms of visual art, primarily drawing and painting. Her interest in art progressed throughout her childhood and into adulthood. She married, raised a family and had a successful career all the while seizing every opportunity to hone her skills. With the encouragement of her family and friends she studied the great painters and incorporated art whenever possible.

However, when she retired and moved to Lake Arrowhead 28 plus years ago, Guy Mathis, her devoted husband encouraged her to follow her passion to its fullest. Billie's studies intensified allowing time for travel to view the works of the masters and she began painting with her contemporary heroes in the art world. She became knowledgeable and skilled to the level of instructor and influencer in the art community. Billie went on to create thousands of works of art from the smallest drawings, to sculptures and magnificent paintings that adorn the walls of homes, businesses and institutions across the county.

Billie was a remarkable lady in every possible way. Kind, thoughtful, generous and hospitable to the degree that she opened her home to fellow painters holding weekly classes and often providing lunch. She encouraged her students to sketch and paint every week, to look at God's creation and study the glorious order there. She taught her students to recognize forms, values and focal points, to name just a few of the Elements and Design Principles of Art. She instructed them on techniques they would go on to incorporate in their own compositions. Each class concluded with a critique that was both encouraging and beneficial.

Billie leaves a legacy of creating beauty and instilling confidence in her students to do the same. Her influence on her students is timeless and priceless.

My grandmother, Billie Mathis, was a treasure. She was a fragile soul built in a body of strength. One of her passions were people and because of that, she never met a stranger. She loved to talk. If you weren’t careful, you might not get a word in during a conversation with her.

Grandmother was graceful. Grandmother was dainty.
She enjoyed getting dolled up and feeling girly. She was full of life and very rarely did she let anything take her positive energy away. She was very intelligent, and loved to offer her wisdom to others. Always sharing advice that stemmed from her own experience. Grandmother enjoyed storytelling. Some of them were far-fetched, and you would look at each other in disbelief and smirk, but you always let her keep going because it was one of her favorite things.

Grandmother loved her family time, and was always ready to plan the next event. She was very intentional with her time. She knew how precious life was, and she took every opportunity to make it sweeter.

My Grandmother was a very talented watercolor artist. At a young age, it became a lifelong passion that she pursued. I vividly remember spending hours in her in home studio posing for her to paint a portrait of me. Sitting as still as an 8 year old could, watching her eyes move back and forth capturing the lines of my face as she recreated this image on her paper. I’m sure much of my family could share this same memory with her. Painting with her will always be a solid pastime we all shared with grandmother. She loved to involve her family in such an important piece of her life. Grandmother went on to build herself as a well known watercolor artist in her community and you are blessed if you have one of her paintings hanging in your home.

To be 89 years old, Grandmother was very technologically savvy and kept up with all the advances on the Internet. Her mind was always sharp and full of detail, which aided her tremendously in this department. I think she realized early on with her art business that if she did not embrace the tech changes, her success as an artist may suffer. Thankfully, her ability to do so was met with minimal challenges. I connected with her occasionally on Facebook, but it wasn’t until after she passed that I found out that she was selling paintings on Etsy, eBay, and even had an Instagram page.

Grandmother loved adventure. She enjoyed staying active and walking the trails in her neighborhood and going to the pool in the summer. She loved going to the movies and coming to watch my children in their sports. It was always a moment cherished because I knew it was a challenge for her these last few years to be there. She was a wonderful person who cared deeply for other people. She loved her children, her grandchildren, and her 3 great grandchildren. My grandmother taught me to enjoy the moments you are in and not to be worried about what’s ahead. To make the most of your time and to love and cherish the people that the Lord has surrounded you with. To be kind. To love your family. To share Jesus. To live and to love according to Biblical scripture. And to be a light and help make this world a better place. And I believe she did just that.

She was preceded in death by:

Husband - Guy F. Mathis

Father - George F. Fritz

Mother - Willie J. Fritz

Survivors include:

Son & Daughter-in-law - Timothy G. Mathis & Myra Mathis

Son & Daughter-in-law - Guy Timothy Mathis & Janet Mathis

Daughter - Janet M. Smith

Grandchildren - Brittany Thibodeaux, Lindsay Dabbs, Marshall Smith, Clayton Mathis, Mason Mathis, Travis Mathis

Great Grandchildren - Mali Dabbs, Bodi Dabbs, Lexi Dabbs

In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to Lake Arrowhead Church in Billie's Honor.

Address: 1218 Lake Arrowhead Pkwy, Waleska, GA 30183

Phone Number: (770) 479-3886

South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.thescfh.com