On August 15, 1923, in Montgomery, Alabama, Vicci Carter Matthews was the second child of six born to Effie Mae Nathan Carter and William Maurice Carter.

The Carters moved to Birmingham during the Spring of 1924. While Vicci was named Willa Mae after her mother's favorite sister, she was always called "Doll" by her parents and siblings and never called Willa Mae. As a teenager, after learning the Latin phrase "Veni, Vidi, Vici", which translates to "I came, I saw, I Conquered" in English, a classmate and friend teased Vicci by this phrase. Soon, all of her friends and classmates called her "Vicci", the shortened version of this Latin phrase. Upon reaching adulthood, Vicci had her birth certificate amended to reflect this name.

Vicci was extremely close to her parents. William, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute and a World War I veteran who served in France, worked for the railroad as a pullman. An educated man, William made it his mission to teach each of his children how to read by the time they started their formal schooling. Vicci credited her father for instilling in her an insatiable appetite for learning new things as well as a lifelong passion for reading. Vicci also credited her father for her love of traveling by train. As an employee for the railroad, William received rail passes that enabled his family to travel for free. Vicci spoke fondly of train trips she took with her father to Savannah and Chicago. She also loved Ginger Snap cookies and Pay Day candy bars treats from her dad. Vicci also said that her father was a loving husband who taught her the importance of kindness.

As for her mother, Vicci credited her mother with teaching her the value of faith and the power of prayer. Vicci also gave credit to her mother for inspiring her to accept Jesus Christ into her life. After her father's untimely death when Vicci was nine, as the oldest of five surviving siblings, Vicci took on the responsibility of helping her mother to raise her younger siblings. This included serving as the primary care giver during the day while in school for her youngest sibling Ted, who was two years old at the time of his father's death, so that Effie could work full time to support the family. Vicci cared for Ted, with Ted sharing her chair during class each day, up until the day he formally started school two years later.

At the age of thirteen, Vicci went to work after school and during summers to help her mother with supporting the family. Her first jobs were as a domestic. After completing a typing course at the age of sixteen, Vicci worked as a clerk typist for the NAACP. She also worked as a secretary at the Tuskegee Airfield. After graduating from high school, Vicci matriculated to Alabama State University. After passing the Civil Service Exam the following summer, Vicci moved to Washington, DC and entered the Federal work force. Vicci continued to support her family by sending money home to her mother.

It was also during this time that Vicci met, fell madly in love and, subsequently, married George Wiggins. George worked for the Department of the Treasury and was a real estate agent. Vicci and George had four children, Cheryl Ann (aka Rabiyah), George (aka "Skip", named for his father), Theodore Phillip (named for his uncle Ted), and Charles Jeffery (aka "Chas", named for his paternal grandfather). Vicci continued supporting her family by providing a home for her two youngest brothers, Ted and Oscar, while they attended Howard University.

Following George's unfortunate death, Vicci later married Colonel Elliott Johnson, Sr., who had a daughter, Cynthia. From this union, Vicci and Elliott Sr. had two sons, Elliott Jr. (named for his father) and William Carter (named for his maternal grandfather). As such, Vicci would lovingly raise seven children.

After this union ended in divorce, Vicci married Samuel Matthews (aka "Sam"). Sam and Vicci had met at Tuskegee Airfield, years earlier, when Sam was going through flight training. Sam cherished his "Doll" until his passing in November 2000.

Vicci is survived by her loving children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and friends. She will be remembered for her warm smile, generosity, gracious demeanor, elegant cadence, and caring eyes.

A viewing will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at C.W. Edwards Funeral Home, Inc, 16476 Richmond Turnpike, Bowling Green, Virginia 22427.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday January 26, 2020 at Jericho Baptist Church, 8435 Jericho Road, Ruther Glen, Virginia 22546 with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Reverend Raleigh Harris, will be delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.