Mattie Estelle Lopez was born on March 25, 1947 in Egypt, Mississippi to Sammie C. Russell and Susie Rucker. After the passing of her mother Susie Rucker, her father Sammie Russell married Velma Wilson in 1948. Together they raised 14 children. The Russells moved from West Memphis, Arkansas to Visalia, CA where Mattie attended and graduated from Redwood High School in 1966.
Mattie married James Allen Dudley of Visalia, CA in December 1966 and together they had one son James Dudley, Jr. After the death of the James Sr., Mattie married her husband, Robert Lopez and became stepmother to Jessie Holguin Lopez and Margaret Lopez.
Mattie eventually moved to San Francisco, CA where she worked for Pacific Bell phone company until moving back to Visalia, CA. In Visalia, Mattie served as a C.N.A. for 29 years until retirement. Mattie also became an active member of All Nations Church of Fresno, CA.
Mattie was preceded in death by her mother Susie Rucker, husband Robert Lopez, her father Sammie C. Russell and stepmother Velma Russell. She was also preceded by her brothers Sammie Russell, Jr., Jesse Russell Cooper (step-brother), Ernest Russell, Horace Russell, William Russell, and Leroy Russell and sister Rosie Sallam. Mattie leaves behind to mourn her: 4 sons: James Allen Dudley, Jessie Holguin Lopez, Sammie Russell, III, Raymond Russell, and 2 daughters Margaret Lopez and Veronica Russell. She also leaves behind 24 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 1 brother Lawrence Russell, 4 sisters: Jewell Feliz, Juanita Johnson, Linda Morgan of Visalia, CA and Pearl Richards and 1 stepsister Gracie Simpson of Fresno, CA. Mattie also has 1 aunt and uncle Frances and Arthur Haskins, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
