Rev. Jack Kenneth Mathews, 90, of Fitzgerald, GA passed away Saturday, Sept 9 at his residence with his family at his side.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Tuesday, Sept 12, 2023 at Eastside Holiness Baptist Church, Fitzgerald, GA with the Rev. Rob Merritt and Rev. Harold Barnes officiating. The interment will be at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Coffee County with the Rev. Edsel Young officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Monday, Sept 11, 2023 at Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, GA.
Mr. Mathews was born July 8, 1933 in Coffee County to the late Jeffie and Annie Mathews of Ambrose, GA.
Mr. Mathews was known by so many for his dedication to his ministry of preaching. He carried the gospel for 64 years and worked a full-time job until his retirement from the job, but continued to preach. He was an elder member of the Holiness Baptist denomination and many of the younger preachers looked to him as a role model. He loved the times he was with family of whom he cherished so deeply. Mr. Mathews lost his first wife, Mary Katherine Mathews after 59 years. He was blessed to have a second chance at loving when he married Linda Hall Mathews who was with him until the end of his journey. One of his favorite hobbies was keeping his yards immaculate. People would ride by and stop when they would see him in the yards and tell him how pretty they were. If a pine cone fell, it seemed as if he could hear it falling from inside the house. If he saw it, he had to go get it up. After his health started declining, he was so blessed with a dedicated neighbor, Carol Howell, who would come over and keep them picked up because she knew how he felt about his yards. We are so thankful for her. He had certain little snacks that he just loved such as nutty buddy’s, oatmeal pies, and ice cream. Most days about 4:00, they would go to town to get him an ice cream. He enjoyed his fruit trees in his yard also.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children and bonus children : Judy Mathews of Broxton, GA; Janet (Freddie) Swanson of Douglas, GA; Barry (Cindy) Hall of Nashville, GA; and Alicia (Mark) Land of Berlin, GA; grandchildren: Stacy (Jennifer) Swanson, Shannon (Jill) Swanson, Matthew (Lori) Swanson, Chris (Kerry) Ruis, Jeff (Cindy) Ruis, Clint (Stacy) Ruis, Julie (Justin) Varnadoe, Brandon (Mia) Hall, Taylor Ruis, Jackson Land, and Markie Land; several great-grand, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews remain.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, four brothers, one sister, and grandparents.