R-CA Treasury of John J. Roark Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Jenna Mathews
2012 — John J. Roark Award Recipient
The Roark-Conner Association (R-CA) is paying tribute to Jenna Mathews. In 2012, Jenna received the highest honor bestowed by the R-CA — the John J. Roark Distinguished Service Award — for her exemplary service and for all of the hard work she had been doing for the R-CA.
Jenna’s parents were Alva Louise Blair (1905-2004) and Leroy Labon Simpson, and her grandparents were Senia Virginia Witt (1879-1957) and John L. Blair (1880-1958). Her great grandparents were Martha Jane Conner (1843-1933) and Silas William Witt (1835-1889), and her gg grandparents were Martha “Patsy” Palmer (1815-1890) and Maximilian Haney Conner (1806-1893). Jenna was born on November 2, 1930, in Fort Worth, Texas, not far from the Historic Stockyards. She never lived anywhere else except for two years in Dallas.
On October 22, 1949, Jenna married Carrol G. Mathews. Carrol and Jenna had 3 sons, Steve and his wife Carol, Kent and his wife Susie, Thomas and his wife Kat; and they have several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Beginning in about 1996, Jenna and Carrol began regularly attending Roark-Conner family reunions. From 1997-1999, Jenna served as a Director. During that time, Jenna also began serving as Registrar along with her husband Carrol. At the Registration Desk family members were pleasantly greeted by Jenna and Carrol who passed out information packets and general information — always with a smile and warm greeting.
In support of John J. Roark’s efforts to preserve family documents, in the late 1990’s Jenna added a number of family documents to the Roark-Conner Historical Documents Collection housed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of those documents is a letter from Laura Roark Shropshire to Jenna’s mother Alva describing the first reunion in great detail. Alva had been unable to attend. A portion of the letter is included at the end of this tribute for your enjoyment.
During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Jenna and Carrol participated in several Cemetery Cleanup Days organized by Chuck Gross.
In 2002, there was a great interest in publishing an Ancestral Recipe Book for the Roark-Conner Association. To get the ball rolling on this, they asked family members to send in their favorite recipes and especially recipes of the ancestors. Jenna served as one of the key contacts for collecting and organizing the recipes. She also was instrumental in developing and advertising the cookbook.
In 2006, Jenna and Carrol made arrangement for the semi-annual board session designed to plan R-CA activities and fund-raising projects. The meeting was held in Fort Worth, Texas, near the Stockyards, a very historic place of the Old West. Attendees enjoyed viewing the longhorn cattle drives — revisiting the old days of cattle being driven through the area prior to being auctioned, sold, and shipped to other states and places.
For the 50th Reunion, Jenna and Carrol ensured that all attendees received registration packets, complete with R-CA lapel pins stamped “Celebrating 50 Years – 2008.” Special 50th anniversary watches were also sold. An R-CA 50th Anniversary brochure, a “Roark Homestead” brochure, and an R-CA 50th anniversary program for the “Salem Baptist Church History and Worship Program” were distributed to attendees.
Following the 2012 Reunion, after many years as Treasurer and Registrar, Carroll and Jenna stepped down. During the 2012 Reunion, they worked with Bill and Mary Witt, who had agreed to take on the positions, to show them the ropes. In addition, through the years, Jenna and Carrol contributed generously to the Heritage Fund in memory of other family members.
During her career, Jenna worked for American Airlines in the Flight attendant school; Air Freight Accounting; and as Secretary to the Director of Purchasing. Jenna retired from American Airlines on November 30, 1993. She loved her job, and her family continued to enjoy generous flight privileges after her retirement. Jenna passed away on December 7, 2022 at the age of 92.
It is also notable that Jenna’s paternal Grandfather — William Wallace Simpson — was the Western Artist for El Paso Times from 1914 to about 1920, for the Fort Worth Record Star-Telegram during the 1920’s, and artist for the Dallas Morning News in the early 1930’s. His art work was selected by the “Texas Trail of Fame” for their 2008 Induction Ceremony. Jenna and Carrol attended the induction Ceremony along with 400-500 people at the Invitation Only affair. It was a Great Tribute to Wallace Simpson for his contributions to creation and preservation of the western way of life and western heritage.
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The following letter is a portion of a letter written by Laura Roark Shropshire to Alva Simpson, mother of Jenna Mathews, following the first Roark-Conner reunion in 1959.
“Home Aug. 19, 1959
Dear Alva:
I received your letter Fri. and was so disappointed you were not coming to the Reunion. It was an overwhelming success.
My son and family came to my home early to make pictures of the four generations my son, his son and his son my great grandson then the great grandson and myself then the entire family with in-laws Sat. morn. then they went to the Reunion.
Those from a distance arrived Fri. night and were at motels, some from Calif., New Jersey, Chicago, Augusta, Ga. the farthest away. All were on time and the program was followed. Consult your program. Joe reported for his family Willa Ries reported on Lilly’s family all present but Carter. Berry reported for his family all present but John A. of Ky. He also made a talk on the Reformations expressed thankfulness we and our forebears were born during this era. Glenn Carmichael, son-in-law reported for Grover’s family all present but Reuel in Iwo Jima. Reba reported for my family all present but Nelle, and gave record of Palmers arrival in America in 1629 and other Conner and Roark early history and read my paper which I enclosed you a copy of.
Tom Roark nor his family of Demopolis Ala. and Fla. & Miss. were not represented. Luke’ s widow sent her regards & regrets the hospital would not release her to attend.
Lilly’s granddaughter gave an instrumental number, accordian.
Those living near enough took food and the others ordered food from nearby restaurants and they all ate together & there was so much food left they decided to take it to Chickamauga Dam Lake Park here near me for an evening meal & much association in the meantime most all came by to see me. This hill was lined with cars and this house was full. Such greetings! Not just hand clasps, kisses but real bear hugs and embraces, the 3rd generation entering into.
After an hour or more of such mingling together here they repaired to the park nearby till far into the night. J.A. & wife came here to spend the night the others to their homes & motels to gather at Reba’s Sun. morn to drive up to Salem church site and the ancestral home. Of course I had to go on that pilgrimage with my cane & J.A’s hand I walked down steps & into the car.
What a cavalcade! The church building has fallen in & overgrown right by the highway. We assembled under one of those ancient oaks & Dallas delivered a good sermon from where the woman of Samaria talked with Jesus & he told her the time had come to worship God “in Spirit and in Truth.” It was a timely practical message very appropriate. We sang for opening “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” & closing hymn “When the Roll is called up Yonder.” Dallas offered both opening & closing prayers. Among other statements he said man was never satisfied without the spirit of God within.
After sermon we all assembled in front of church site for pictures cameras flashed, the three brothers & I together then the whole assemblage. Lee Shafer, in-law, said reverently its reminder of the children of Israel when Ezra was gathering them back.
Then we all drove over to what was our former homes on the river taken by T.V.A. The boys grilled the wieners & burgers and food and cold drinks were spread on front of cars where we ate & talked and talked, then the more venturous ‘lit out’ for Middleton Spring & other points of interest, while the rest enjoyed rest. I even had a chair someone brought along. Reassembled we drove back to the ancestral home so familiar & so well preserved. They inspected it, the bullet holes inside, the bars, iron bars at doors, the great big logs, the broad floor planks up stairs etc. etc. the former reminders of the Civil War.
Then many went wading in the creek and the 3rd generation were delighted with that quite as much as the others. Baxter Roark & another cousin picked up Ann his wife & set her down in middle of creek then Ola Mae, then Reba, on the run, & set her down best dress hose slippers & all but the rest of the girls fled, ha! ha! It was a very hot day & didn’t at all matter just more fun there was much mirth glee and joy among all. However, all had been so reverent such piety & of sacred thought & mood. We had at reunion a picture of the old home, the church & the creek under glass made several yrs. ago. The creek is sacred it has been the watery grave all these years for the church the ancestors and their descendants. Many very many have I seen “arise to walk in newness of life” from that stream though I myself was baptized in Savannah Creek and Reba was the only one of my immediate family baptized in that creek though so many of the family that were present at reunion were put under water in that flowing sacred steam.
All were so happy & enjoyed the occasion so much said they wouldn’t have missed it for anything, the Holy Spirit was so manifest and there was that whole-hearted oneness among all.
I am made to wonder if it was witnessed in the battlements of heaven where the many saints are that long ago had their battlefields here on earth with their vision directed to a heavenly abode scripture bears this out. The very ground upon which they trod is sacred ground. The hills and vales so reverberate their prayers. I am a living witness to such scenes. Grandfather & Grandmother Conner standing together singing in church she being blind but their voices resound today. They worshiped God there “in spirit and in truth.” & in the “beauty of holiness.” Oh, the visions of heavenly splendor I have seen manifested there at Salem.
Our coming together was far more than just a meeting that was so evident. Because the church building has fallen into decay need not deter the office of the Holy Spirit for God always favors & rewards his children and their efforts to revive & commemorate the blessed.
They organized the reunion its to be permanent same date & its hoped to be better planned program next time this being the initial.
All relatives returned home Sun. and Mon. Baxter & family Dallas & wife & Lilly Ben drove all night Sun. night to be in Chicago Mon. morn for their work. . . . ”
Of the 75 descendants of William Roark my father 52 were present and registered. Copies will be made of the register & other data to be handed out later so all can keep up. . .
I’ll stop now and let me hear from you. Best wishes always,
Cousin Laura”