Teenager, his mother had passion to serve others

Matthew Prather cherished his family, revered African mission work and eschewed social status.

Recently, the teen spoke to second-graders about his summers distributing medical supplies and conducting bush clinics in Zambia.

Enlarge this image

Stephen (from left), Jeanette, Michael and Matthew Prather shown at Yosemite last year. Jeanette and Matthew died from injuries when their van flipped this week. Family photo

Sarah Higinbotham, a Sunday school teacher at North Atlanta Church of Christ, was teaching her students about a verse from Romans 15:1 that reads, “Strength is for service, not status.” She asked Matthew, who was helping the kids create tissue-paper flowers for Mother’s Day, what value he placed on status.

“He just laughed,” she said. “Status meant nothing to this kid. He looked these kids right in the eye and said, ‘That is not what life is all about.’”

“So I said, ‘Why don’t you tell them what service is?’” she said.

Matthew, she recalled, started by telling the kids about having “the greatest family in the world.” He explained how his parents helped people overcome addiction and how his older brother served as his role model.

He likened mission work in Africa to being on vacation, minus indoor sleeping facilities, traditional food and bathrooms. “I want you to imagine your best day at Disney World. That’s what mission work is like every day, but you’re changing people’s lives at the same time,” Mrs. Higinbotham said he told students.

Three hands shot up. One little girl said she wanted to join the cause, Mrs. Higinbotham said.

Matthew Scott Prather, 15, of Marietta died Monday when the family’s van flipped on Interstate 75 near Macon while returning from a celebration.

His mother, Jeanette, 51, who had just completed her master’s degree from the University of Florida, died from her injuries Friday.

Jeanette Prather was known for her work helping dozens of women kick drug and alcohol dependency.

“She had a Thanksgiving meal, and they would always have a house full of those people who were in recovery programs,” said Ken Snell, executive minister at North Atlanta Church of Christ.

Both funerals will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the North Atlanta Church of Christ. Roswell Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

A rising sophomore at Pope High School, Matthew embodied a life of passion, service and love of all people. Jordan Johnson, 15, who has known Matthew since he was 5, said his best friend was known for welcoming everyone.

“He just talked to people who weren’t really in the ‘in’ crowd,” Jordan said. “He felt that if he was in that position, he’d want the same.”

Matthew’s aunt, Dr. Marylou Behnke, introduced him and his brother to the Zambia Medical Mission, where Matthew helped children overcome fears of shots and assisted kids in an orphanage. Matthew had been twice before and was scheduled to go again July 4 for a monthlong trip.

To honor Matthew’s devotion to service, the church has set up a memorial fund in his name. It created another fund to help the family with expenses.”We want young people 50 years from now to remember his passion for kids in Africa … and to inspire a new generation of people to serve the way he taught us to serve,” Mr. Snell said.

Additional survivors include father Michael Prather and brother Stephen Prather.