Colette Matthews Burgess Naso

Colette “Maw Maw” Matthews Burgess Naso, 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 10, 2022.

Colette was born December 4, 1928 in Nash County, N.C. to the late John Paul and Lillian Strickland Matthews.

Colette found great joy in traveling the world, playing a round of golf, and giving the perfect gift. She had a great sense of personal style and her smile was her best accessory. Her home was filled with beautiful flowers that she grew and arranged. A lover of narratives, she had a standing date with the library, was a regular at the movie theater, and enjoyed telling and listening to stories – most evident while hosting Sunday lunches with her family or epic dinner parties with friends.

Colette was an active member of Davidson College Presbyterian Church, singing in the choir, attending Sunday school, and involved in her beloved circle. Outside of church she found community with book clubs, dinner clubs, and social groups.

Colette met the love of her life, Riley Dee Burgess Sr, at Wake Forest College. “Big Riley” preceded her in death. She found a second great love with Joseph Patrick Naso, who also preceded her in death. In addition, her great cloud of witnesses include her brother Gerald Phillips Matthews and her sister Helon Matthews Bass. She is survived by her son Riley Dee Burgess Jr and wife Barbee Whisnant-Burgess of Davidson, her granddaughters Madeline Victoria Burgess (John Fawcett) of Raleigh, Sara Victoria Burgess-Barnes (Thomas Barnes) of Wilmington, and Holly Victoria Burgess (Yoshi Teters) of Davidson, as well as a number of loving and caring nieces, nephews and cousins, local and in various other states.

A memorial service will be held in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Davidson College Presbyterian Church, PO Box 337, Davidson, NC 28036.