“This anniversary was magical because without them none of this would have happened,” Matilda said. “We’d have had an anniversary, but they made it special for us.” 

Although only 16 and 19 when they got married, the Newsome’s knew the best thing they had in life was each other. The couple grew up together, becoming best buddies and confidants. Matilda believes that the secret to their marriage was their faith and commitment to fix something if it broke. 

“If I had it to do it all over, I would do it again,” Matilda said. “I would not have done anything differently if I had those 55 years to do over. We had rough times and things we had to work through, but we never gave up on each other.” 

Matilda cherished her role as full-time mom and enjoyed creating a home to which her family wanted to return. While Matilda raised their three children, Eddley worked in construction and mining, as well as pastored Faith of Christ Church in Virgie, Ky., for more than 40 years. Eddley served as a father-figure to those in the community, providing food and answering the call for help no matter the time. He preached countless revivals and funerals, and baptized many at a deep spot in a nearby creek known as Eddley’s Hole. People knew if they saw Eddley, Matilda was going to be right next to him, helping however was needed. 

Eddley passed five days after the anniversary celebration and Matilda is grateful for the years God gave them. 

“I know in my heart that he held on because he wanted to spend that anniversary with me,” she said. “It was so heartfelt and wonderful that we got to spend it together.” 

“With hospice work, we want to squeeze out every bit of celebration of life we can,” Andrea Tackett, Chaplain in the Pikeville Office, said. “When we’re journeying with someone toward the end of life, every accomplishment is a milestone and everything is worthy of a celebration, but it’s pretty rare to get to celebrate something this significant with a couple.”

Bluegrass Care Navigators provides hospice care in 32 counties across Kentucky, as well as specialized care for aging Kentuckians including palliative, PACE, home health, transitional, home primary care and grief care. For more information about our services or volunteer programs, visit www.bgcarenav.org.