Mrs. Pernina B. Mathis was born on January 7, 1909, to Oscar and Mary Hutson in St. George, South Carolina. She had one brother, Oscar M. Hutson, Jr. When she was five years old, Pernina’s family packed up and moved to Jacksonville, FL, a place that she would call "home" for the next ninety-five years.

As a young woman, Pernina, held several jobs before deciding to settle down as a homemaker and raise her children. Her six children include: Mrs. Thelma Jones, Mr. Laverne (Gwendolyn) Mathis, Mr. Ronnie (Vera) Mathis, Mr. Oscar Mathis, Mrs. Nathanna Green, and Ms. Valencia Drumgo; Ronnie, Nathanna and Laverne are predeceased.

Pernina or "Mother Dear" as her family affectionately calls her, loved the LORD and her church. She was a life-long member of Greater Grant, where she served on several boards and ministries. Pernina enjoyed several hobbies such as: working in her yard (gardening), writing poetry, working on crossword puzzles, watching gospel channels, listening to gospel radio, and participating in recreational activities at the Moncrief Senior Center.

Her infamous "Birthday Cake for Jesus" was a tradition at all Christmas family gatherings, and you knew not to touch the multi-colored cake with the seven candles until everyone had joined in to sing "Happy Birthday" and blow out the candles in honor of our Lord and Savior. She loved her family dearly and her home was always open to any and everyone, no matter who you were.

Pernina was a resident of the Lake Forest neighborhood on the North side for more than thirty years and she spent her final years at the Lakeside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.