Mattie was born to the late Willie H. Loyd and Christ Allie Smedley Loyd on February 25,1936 the third of four children in Litroe, Louisiana. The Litroe and Felsenthal Communities were her home.

Her parents took the children to church and the Litroe Church of God in Christ has  always remained her church home.

She graduated from Marion Industrial High School on May 25, 1956.  Unable to attend college due to lack of money, she went to work picking cotton in the fields of Perryville, Louisiana. There she met Christopher R Watson who became her husband in September 1958.  One child was born to the union.  The marriage ended in divorce 10 years later and Mattie became a single parent. She also became a shoe salesperson. She collected burial/insurance. She worked at the chicken poultry. She was a housekeeper. She painted houses and cars. She learned to work on cars.  She changed the oil in her car and she changed flat tires.  She hunted deer and wore camouflage before it was okay for women to do so.  She insisted, sometimes with a switch, that we learn how to do things for ourselves just like she did.

She was extremely passionate about voting.  She went above and beyond to get people to the polls during our local and Presidential elections. Times were tough but she was tougher.

On March 30,1976 Mattie married Wilbert Lankford James. Daddy

Wilbert remained her husband for 29 years until his passing.

During that time Mattie decided to become an entrepreneur! F&J's Hideaway Club was born and "DJ Mattie" arrived. Litroe became the place to be on the weekends. People traveled from miles around to come to the little hole in the wall.