Josie-Tatum (Jie-Lun) Mattox Carlson is remembered this week for her love for Jesus and for others.
Carlson, 21, passed away last Tuesday morning, Nov. 12, in Gainesville, from injuries she received in a traffic accident.
Carlson was wellknown and well-liked locally. She was the valedictorian and homecoming queen of her senior class at Pierce County High School in 2021.
The oldest of four children adopted from China by Robbie (Scott) Beahan and the late Stan Mattox, Carlson had recently married her high school sweetheart, Ethan, and moved to Sautee-Nacoochee in the northeast Georgia mountains.
Always humble, Carlson used her high school honors to promote and share the Gospel.
During her valedictory address, Mattox encouraged her classmates to have faith in and lean on their faith in God.
“...What matters most is not being crowned homecoming queen or being Valedictorian. It is not what matters, rather it is Who matters. (God) holds the stars in His hands and numbers each grain of sand, yet still He knows your name.” She had gone on several mission trips and always had a heart for others. Carlson was currently the missions assistant at Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch. She had also worked with the youth ministry at Ingleside Baptist Church in Macon.
She enjoyed hiking and family road trips.
“You would always find her with a smile on her face and the willingness to help anyone. If you were the one sitting alone at lunch, she would be the one to come sit with you. She had a true servant’s heart and touched numerous lives throughout her short life,” said her family.
Ethan and Josie-Tatum (JieLun) Mattox Carlson
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, from the First Baptist Church in Blackshear.
For a full obituary, please see page 3.
