Alberta “Birdie” Wade Matthews of Shreveport, and formerly of Vicksburg, transitioned on Thursday, July, 25.

“Birdie”, as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was born November 8, 1949, to Calvin Wade and Bertha Crawford Wade. She was the fourth of five daughters.

She received her early education in the private and public schools of Vicksburg and graduated from Rosa A. Temple High School in 1967.

Alberta furthered her education at Jackson State University, Mississippi College and Wiley College.

Her work experiences included Waterways Experiment Station as a mathematics specialist and the public schools of Shreveport as a special education teacher.

She was a member of Strong’s Chapel A.M.E. Church and later united with Bethel A.M.E. Church as director of the Young Adult Choir.

Mourning her passing are her daughter, Johnna Matthews of Houston; four sisters, Dollie (George) Rankin of New Orleans, Sylvia (Nathan, deceased) of Shreveport, Lois (Albert, deceased) Brown and Patricia (Thomas) Sturgis of Vicksburg. She will also be missed by several nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, August 3, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Shreveport under the direction of Heavenly Gates Funeral Home.