Naomi Mathews Deifell

She is survived by countless nieces, nephews and cousins, whom she loved and enjoyed visiting over the decades.

After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in child development and graduate work in special education, Naomi taught for 26 years, mainly the first grade, including 18 years at the James L. Riley Elementary School in Atlanta. She was a beloved teacher, whose students would stay in contact for decades, returning to introduce spouses and children to their first-grade teacher. Naomi’s love of learning and teaching continued throughout her life, leading her into all kinds of adventure, fun and fellowship as she continued to bless those around her.

Naomi loved Jesus. She was raised a Methodist, joining the church pastored by her grandfather, the Reverend W.T. Hamby. When she moved to Atlanta after college, she joined the Presbyterian Church, where she met her husband, John Deifell. They were married on September 2, 1967. They both taught Sunday school classes at Morningside Presbyterian. They met many dear friends in Atlanta and at Morningside and stayed in contact with many of them throughout their lives.

After years of vacationing in Montreat, North Caolina, Naomi and John retired and lived there full time. They joined Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, where, again, they met more great friends. In 1993, John died after a short, but horrible battle with ALS.

In 2006, Naomi re-dedicated her life to Christ, joined First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina, and was baptized again, this time at Ridgecrest Lake. (She had previously been baptized, including in the River Jordan in 1998 during a trip to the Holy Land.) She remained active at FBCA for many years, serving, growing and enjoying great fellowship.

Once she could no longer drive, she was so thankful to the kind souls in her Sunday school class and others who helped her get to church, shopped for her and assisted with other needs (much as she had previously served those homebound).

When she could no longer get to FBCA, she enjoyed worshipping on the Highland Farms campus, attending Bible studies and various worship services.

John and Naomi were married for 26 years. John’s first wife, Louise, died of cancer. John and Louise had three children, Holly, Jey and Ann. Naomi liked to say that she “inherited” a wonderful family. Holly and Lyman Ormond had four children, Lou (Howard Hill), Herb (Martha-Duke), John (Annie) and James (Laura). Jey and his wife Joan (Chapman) had four children, Tony, David (Elizabeth), Heather (Richmond Smith) and Hope. Ann and Steve Hubbard had two children, Christoper and Louise (Justin Boll). Naomi loved this ever-growing family, 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren, and they loved her. Naomi would often tell her family how much she was blessed with the family God gave her through John, and they would debate who was blessed more, for she was, indeed, a blessing to every generation, transforming John’s last 26 years and countless years of so many others.

After John’s death, Naomi sought fresh vistas for her life without her dear husband, moving in new directions – literally and figuratively. Taking to heart Mark Twain’s quip that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow mindedness,” Naomi traveled all over. She enjoyed meeting and learning about people from around the world, traveling to several countries, including Russia with the Friendship Force of Western N.C.

She loved hosting people, including visitors from Novgorod Republic, Kiev, Siberia, Australia, England, Germany and other places. For several years, she owned an RV, which carried her out West, back East to New England, and up north to Canada (where she visited her favorite, Anne of Green Gables). When she got rid of the RV, she still enjoyed learning about other places and people, watching travel shows, reading and meeting new people through church, volunteering and hiking.

Naomi volunteered throughout her life. In her later life, she enjoyed working with children from Slavic countries, serving at St. Joe’s Day Surgery, delivering Meals on Wheels, and volunteering around the area, including Highland Farms, Ten Thousand Villages, Second Loaf, Habit for Humanity’s Home Store, Buncombe County schools and Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry.

Naomi also became an avid hiker, enjoying God’s handiwork in the beautiful mountains of Western N.C. She made great friends hiking with a “twice a week” group. When she found a little dog (a Spitz mix, she appropriately named Joy), she hiked or walked twice a day, more often than not with Joy (her constant companion for 14 and a half years). When Naomi ceased hiking mountain trails, she enjoyed walking around Montreat and later around the campus of Highland Farms.

In later years, she was regularly seen walking the long halls of her apartment building there. When she could no longer get out into nature, she still loved to appreciate God’s creations, moon gazing with friends, and most recently, bird watching from her recliner.

God blessed Naomi with a full 94 years, and she made the most of them, counting every blessing along the way and blessing those around her. She is perfectly blessed now, though greatly missed.

Funeral service: Monday, April 28, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Givens Highland Farms Assembly Room. Pastors Hunter Preston and Guy Sayles officiated. A reception was held after the service.

The family would like to express their great gratitude to the staff of Highland Farms, who took such good care of her, particularly in her last few years when she lived in Healthcare.

In lieu of flowers, Naomi asks that you consider making a contribution to the First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina, or Habit for Humanity.

Harwood Home for Funerals & Cremation Services assisted the family.