Toni Cusack Matthews

Ms. Toni Cusack Matthews, daughter of the late Jimmy Cusack and Dean Cusack Pattillo, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026.  She was born and brought up in Florence County.  She worked with her family on their farm and was a graduate of Hannah-Pamplico High School. She continued her education with career and vocational training pertaining to her work.  Her public work began with The Lake City State Bank, and then she worked with insurance for many years, beginning with Mr. James Vernon Epps.  Toni was a hard worker and was able to get most tasks completed quickly.  She was also a great helper, especially when there was a big job to get done.  She would pull her share of the task and more, and you seldom had to ask.  She also knew that there were just times you needed someone to sit with you, and be close by, and she was good at that too.  At the end of her public work years, she helped take care of many people including her maternal grandparents, her stepfather, and lastly, she was the primary caregiver for her mother.

As a child, she attended Hebron Baptist Church in Friendfield, and in later years, Sandy Bay Pentecostal Holiness Church.

She loved her family and was especially close to her twin sister.  She researched family history and connections for a number of years...talking with many people, going through stacks of dusty courthouse records, microfilm, and recording information from headstones and markers in many local and distant cemeteries. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Jimmy and Kevin Cusack; her grandparents, Otto and Nellie Cusack and Herbert and Lillie Miles; a brother-in-law, Reedy Floyd; and her stepfather, George Pattillo.  Her deepest loss was her son, John Lee, who passed away in 2021.

She is survived by her daughter, Nikki Lee; her sisters, Joni Rogers (Bobby) and Sheila Floyd; her companion, Richard McKenzie; one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter.

Sincere appreciation is offered to all who befriended Toni or supported her in any way over the course of her life.  Special thanks is given to the staff at the Carlyle Senior Care Center in Kingstree for their love and care over the last seven months, and to Ms. Johnnie Baylor who quickly became a wonderful roommate and friend. 

Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery in the Friendfield Community of Scranton.

Memorials may be made to Hebron Baptist Church, 8655 Francis Marion Road, Scranton, SC 29591.

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