On Sunday, October 12, Matushka Monica Tallant (wife of the ever-memorable Archpriest Benedict Tallant,+2020) reposed in the Lord. Memory Eternal to Matushka Monica!
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Matushka Jewel Monica Tallant was born in Elrod, Alabama on December 24, 1932. She was the second of four girls born to John and Mattie Bell Boswell.
After her family moved to Birmingham, she attended Paul Hayne High School where she met and married the love of her life, William Tallant. During their 72 ½ years of marriage they were blessed with five daughters whom she loved unconditionally and referred to as “My Girls”.
She was a devout, faithful, and obedient handmaiden of God, who loved Christ with her whole heart, as well as the Orthodox Church and particularly St Nicholas and the parishioners here.
When her husband was ordained to the priesthood, she earned the title of “Matushka” and was, indeed, a mother to their flock. She was a self-described “people person” and loved meeting new people, sharing her faith, and helping others in any way possible. She loved sparkle, bright colors, and gorgeous hats. She was a true gem who lived up to her name.
Matushka Monica had an entrepreneurial spirit and was an accomplished self-taught seamstress. She sewed clothes for her daughters including evening gowns. Later she started her own successful business, Draperies by Jewel.
Sadly, but with hope in the Resurrection, she fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, October 12, 2025 and joined her husband, the Very Reverend Mitered Archpriest Benedict, who had proceeded her in death in 2020. Also proceeding her in death, were her parents and sisters Betty June Meadows, Norma Jean Downs, Marguarite Goodwin and her son-in-law William McCoy.
In addition to her five daughters: Dorothy McCoy, Melissa Lewis-Young (Richard), Melanie Wheeler (Larry), Janelle Davis (Fr. Paul), and Rhonda McCracken (Paul), she is also “Machen” to 13 grandchildren, 29 Great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, with whom she was blessed. She has a host of nieces, nephews, and friends that she treasured and that will miss her.
Her pall bearers are Douglas Lewis, William Davis, Hank King, William May, Connor May, and Ian Davis.
The schedule of services is: Visitation at Bell Funeral Home, Forestdale beginning at 5 PM on Thursday, October 16 followed by the Parastas at 6PM.
The Order of Burial will be on Friday, October 17 at 10:30 AM at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Brookside, AL. She will be interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Jasper, AL where a Parastas will be served. Rev. Father Paul Davis, Archpriest Father Michael Dunstan and Father Deacon Ephraim Rivers officiating.
