Claudia Matthews Lyons

Claudia Matthews Lyons passed away peacefully at home on Monday, August 25th, surrounded by loved ones.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Claudia was the middle daughter of Alice Poulnot and Earle Dwight Matthews. The family lived in Panama, El Salvador, and all over the American South. Her peripatetic childhood led to a lifetime love of travel, which inspired her explorations across United States, Europe and Central America. After many years in Washington, DC and New York City, she settled in Durham, North Carolina.

Claudia was a graduate of the University of Maryland and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned two master’s degrees. After a life-changing year serving as a VISTA volunteer on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Lame Deer, Montana, she devoted her professional career to social work and community advocacy. In retirement she continued advocating for disadvantaged populations, and found great joy in creating and donating gifts for her community.

Claudia’s passions for language, poetry, art, travel and incredible gardening skills enriched the lives of all who knew her. She was a sharp wordsmith and unrepentantly vicious Scrabble player. She loved the beach, good food, and speaking Spanish, and always looked for beauty. She will be greatly missed. 

Claudia is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Jan Burmeister. She is survived by her husband of forty-two years, Shannon Van Wey, her sister Gretchen, her children Rebecca Cheatham (Eric), Leah Van Wey (Jeanette), Nicolas and Elisabeth Burmeister, her grandchildren Dexter and Luna Willhelm, Kaz and Sorrel Bradley and her beach ball of a cat, Ginsy.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome at the Animal Protection Society of Durham and the Durham Community Food Pantry.