Matilda Hopkins Hartsfield passed away on July 28 following a full life of service to her husband, family, church and community. Favorably known as “Tee” or “Miss Tee,” Hartsfield was born Dec. 7, 1939, in Brunswick, GA, and was the fourth oldest of five children.
She was married for 63 years to the late Rev. Wallace Hartsfield. Their marriage included multiple pastoral calls to three Baptist churches: Mt. Gilboa Baptist Church, Bartow, FL (1959); Metropolitan Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO (1962); Tabernacle Baptist Church, Wichita, KS (1968), and returning in 1972 to Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Mrs. Hartsfield was a faithful Christian and member of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Kansas City for 56 years. A 50-year survivor of breast cancer, she expressed her thanksgiving and praise for God’s goodness and grace in an informal ministry of compassion and support to many women in the community who were confronting a diagnosis or undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
During her life, Hartsfield had many interests and hobbies. An avid bowler for more than 40 years, she practiced regularly to perfect her game in bowling leagues and local, regional and national tournament competitions. In 2009, she was inducted into the Missouri ABC/WIBC Bowling Hall of Fame and won numerous awards for her skills.
Whether it was on the bowling lanes, board or table games, Hartsfield was known for her spirit of competition. Her intelligence and witty conversation were widely recognized and respected earning her a reputation as a fierce competitor at domino, pinochle and bridge tables.
Hartsfield was a sports enthusiast and loyal follower of professional tennis and golf, especially the careers of Tiger Woods and Serena Williams.
A trailblazer in her own right, Hartsfield cultivated a space for herself in a male-dominated profession, earning a barber’s license in 1970.
Hartsfield leaves behind daughters Pamela Faith Harvard and Danise Hope Hartsfield, and son Wallace Hartsfield (daughter-in-love Amy Hartsfield). She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Amber Smith, William Smith (Tarieka Web), Khalil Owens, Romney Hartsfield, Ryan Hartsfield, Austin Thompson, and Alexandria Thompson; nephew Mance Mullino, niece Angela Brown and a host of great grandchildren, great nephews and nieces.