Mattie Will Ross

Mattie Will Ross

God Is Love

January 9, 1936 – July 1, 2026

Some people are remembered for what they accomplished. Others are remembered for how they made people feel. Mattie Will Ross will forever be remembered for the love she shared, the faith she lived, and the family she held together.

Mattie Will Ross was born on January 9, 1936, in Anniston, Alabama, to Kattie Mae Raul and Will Ross. She was the youngest of nine children. Her siblings, in birth order, were Willie Lee Radford, Charley Pete Ross, Tubi Ross, Johnny Ross, Wiley Lee Ross, Anna Lou Reynolds, Catherine Byrd, Sarah Herring, and Mattie. All of her siblings preceded her in death.

As a young woman, Mattie relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, where she established her home and raised her family. In 1983, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be closer to her family, and many of her children later followed.

Affectionately known as Mom, Aunt Mattie, and Grandma by her family, and Mother Ross by her church family, Mattie served faithfully at Grace and Truth in Columbus, Ohio, as an ordained minister. Her favorite Scripture was Psalm 23, and she often reminded everyone, "God is love."

Grandma believed in telling the truth. She never believed in sugarcoating what needed to be said, and while her words were sometimes firm, they were spoken with love, wisdom, and integrity.

She was a woman of integrity and discipline. She kept an immaculate home, managed her affairs with wisdom, and was proud of maintaining excellent credit throughout her life.

Mattie was an exceptional cook who taught her children and grandchildren how to cook. Her specialties included banana pudding, homemade cheesecake, collard greens, Thanksgiving dressing, and her unforgettable macaroni and cheese. Family members traveled for miles to gather around her table, where every meal was prepared with love.

The Heart of the Family

For more than forty years, 344 North Garfield Avenue was much more than an address—it was the heart of the Ross family. If anyone wanted to find the family, they knew exactly where to go. Her telephone number never changed, and neither did the love, wisdom, or welcome that greeted everyone who walked through her door. If you wanted to find the family, you went to Grandma's house.

Mattie was the loving mother of Debra Brown; Carl A. Motley (Kenyatta); Mark Motley; Star Ross Jackson (Prince Jackson); and Wiley Ross (Cheryl), who preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved grandchildren: Neeka Tillman (Will), LaShaun Amos (Johnny), Heidi Harris, Jermaine Harris, Montell Williams, Jackeil "Duke" McKenzie, Wiley "Sabo" Butler, Brandi Collins, Mattie Collins, Lorenzo Williams, Sontae Williams, Jerry Williams, Ashley Williams, Adrian Gilbert, Kevin Motley, Sir Motley, Akeesh Ross, Priest Jackson, and DeAndre Jackson; along with a host of beloved great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends.

As we celebrate the life of Mattie Will Ross, we thank God for the prayers she prayed, the wisdom she shared, the meals she prepared, and the love she poured into everyone she knew. She leaves behind more than cherished memories—she leaves an example. May all honor her life by living the values she held dear: faith in God, love for family, honest living, faithful stewardship, and the truth she declared throughout her life:

God Is Love.