Matthew Royce Higginbotham

Matthew Royce Higginbotham passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2026. For the very first time, he walked, skipped, and ran. He stood tall in the glory of God and celebrated with Jesus.

Matthew was born on August 30, 1993. He is survived by his parents, Robert and Charla Higginbotham, and brother Joseph. He also leaves behind his grandmother Carolyn, many aunts and uncles, numerous cousins, and friends that are too many to count.

He joins in Heaven his grandfather, Danny Snodgrass, grandparents, Maurice and Edna Higginbotham, great-grandparents B.E. and Charlie Boley, great-grandparents Les and Anna Snodgrass, and several beloved aunts and uncles.

Matthew loved Jesus and wanted others to know about God's love. Throughout his childhood, he was a member of Crockett Road Church of Christ, Court Drive Church of Christ, and later Columbus Church of Christ in Columbus, Texas.

Matthew was born with Spina Bifida, but his wheelchair never slowed him down. He was blessed to travel, hunt and go on Mission trips. He loved visiting the Palestine Fire Station when he was younger. Matthew and his family were tireless volunteers for the March of Dimes for many years. He participated in numerous March of Dimes walks and served as the Anderson County ambassador and also as the National Ambassador. 

Matthew was a 2012 graduate of Elkhart High School. He loved to read and loved being an Elk. He is turning his devotion to both into a lasting legacy. Matt told his mom he didn't want flowers for his funeral. Instead, he wanted people to give books that could be donated to Elkhart Elementary, Middle and High School. This book drive began a little over a month ago and has grown to over 840 books. Matt's memory will live on through every child that picks up a book and every teacher that reads a story.

If you wish to honor Matt, you can donate books to the local school district in your area. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please contribute in the name of Matthew Higginbotham to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.

Visitation with Matthew's family will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026, at Dogwood Hills Baptist Church.

His Celebration of meeting Jesus will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at Dogwood Hills Baptist Church.  Bro. Kevin Willmott, and Dan Manuel will be officiating the service.

Services for Matthew Royce Higginbotham are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Matthew Royce Higginbotham, please visit our floral store.