Roll Call Tribute

Matthew Lee Thigpen 

June 30, 1980 - December 7, 2023 

A celebration of the life of Mr. Matthew Lee Thigpen, 43, of Flint, Texas will be held at 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Henderson with Dr. David Higgs officiating, under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home.

Matt passed peacefully from this life on December 7, 2023. He was born June 30, 1980, in Temple and was raised in Henderson where he graduated from Henderson High School in 1998.

Matt went on to Texas A&M University and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. While at A&M, he was active in his fraternity Sigma Nu, writing for the university newspaper The Battalion, sports writing for other local newspapers, and coaching football at Brazos Christian Academy. After graduation, he helped establish other Sigma Nu chapters at other universities. He later received his Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law in 2006. Mr. Thigpen was a well-respected and successful attorney and owned his own firm, Thigpen TX Law.

Matt had a real love for life and never met a stranger. He was also a big history buff and was passionate about Aggie football, hunting and shooting sports, and did some trail biking too. He thoroughly enjoyed coaching and mentoring high school football players with Excel Athletics and the Willowbend Rogues. Matt truly loved spending time with family and being at the family farm, however, his greatest joy and hobby was that of simply being Dad. Matt was also a member of Rock Hill Baptist Church. In loving memory of a remarkable man, we celebrate the life of a devoted father, compassionate brother, cherished son, inspirational coach, and accomplished attorney. His legacy of love, guidance, and professional excellence will forever echo in our hearts. His Christian faith carried him through his daily life, and we rejoice that he is now in Heaven.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents D.R. Lee and wife Sandy, Betty Lee, Roger E. and Geneva Sessions, and Lucy Lange, and aunt Dr. Melanie Kaspar.

Survivors include his children, Drake and Olivia Thigpen and their mother Natalie Reed of Bullard, Emersyn and Ellisyn Thigpen and their mother, the love of Matt’s life, Courtnee Thigpen of Flint, Staff Sgt. Ronnie Cox and LaRondrick Cox of Tyler; parents, Renee and Dr. Roger Sessions of Henderson, and Gary Thigpen of Temple; siblings, Katie Smith and husband Lance of Salado, Kelly Stephens and husband Mark of Pearland, Krystin Gresham and husband Grant of Austin, Corey Thigpen of Temple, and Drew Thigpen of Holland, Texas; as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the foundation that Matt and Courtnee founded, Anderson County Cares, c/o Austin Bank, 2745 TX 256 Loop, Palestine, TX 75803, The Fostering Collective in Tyler at PO Box 133063, Tyler, TX 75713 , or any foster care/adoption charity.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.