She was born July 11, 1916, in Onaway, Michigan, to Jesse Alonzo and Charlotte Mae (Chapman) Swank.
[2] Matthews graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in 1967.
[2] While Matthews was completing her education, she served as an elder in churches in her home state of Michigan, as well as New York and Florida.
[4] During July 1980, the North Central Jurisdiction of United Methodist Church met for an annual conference.
[5] Matthews was elected the first woman bishop at the United Methodist Church North Central regional conference in Dayton, Ohio.