Marjorie Dee Mathis Redding, 79, of Panama City, Florida passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017. She was born on June 28, 1937, in Panama City. To the end, her first priority was to be a mother and grandmother.

Dee graduated from Bay High School and attended the University of Florida, where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority. After college, Dee worked for the International Paper Company in Panama City where she and her co-workers formed a group they called "The Paper Dolls." They have remained close for over fifty years.  Community service was also important to Dee, as evidenced by her many years in the Junior Service League of Panama City.  She was the co-chairman of the committee that created the original Bay Leaves cookbook, which was honored with induction into the Southern Living Hall of Fame.

Dee was a self-taught gourmet cook who loved experimenting with southern recipes and French techniques.  She had a well known "open door policy" when it came to entertaining in her home, and friends and family were always welcome. In 1973, Dee and two friends opened "As You Like It," an elegant gourmet kitchen and bath shop.  She loved to travel all over the world and had especially fond memories from her trips to Wyoming, France and Italy.  Dee never met a stranger, and she made and maintained friendships everywhere she went.   She had a lifelong love of Bay County, particularly enjoying St. Andrews Bay, the beach and freshwater fishing in the area.  Dee was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harvey D. Mathis, her mother, Marjorie Russ Mathis, and a sister-in-law, Beth Mathis. She is survived by her husband, Benjamin W. Redding III; three daughters, Joree Hamm (Jerry), Trish Williams (Rafael), Cille Boyd (Jim); five grandchildren, George Hamm, Cecilia Williams, Ben Williams, Fisher Boyd, J. Alton Boyd III; four brothers, Dr. Pat Mathis (Bernie), Russ Mathis (Sally), Charlie Mathis, Horace Mathis; and her cherished nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday March 24 at 2pm at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Ron Brown officiating. A private family burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 1-2 pm Friday prior to the service. Pallbearers are Roger Mathis, Matt Mathis, Russ Mathis, Ben Fulton, Joe Smith III, Derek Carlson, Ben Fulton, Clifford Higby and Carter Middlemas.  Honorary pallbearers will be the Bay High School Class of 1955 and the Paper Dolls. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to your favorite charity in memory of Dee Redding.