John E. "J. E." "Junior" Mathis, Jr., 75, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at Beverly Health Care in Tifton. His funeral service was held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Douglas Gibson and the Rev. Jimmy Odum officiating. Mr. Mathis was laid to rest at Vickers Church Cemetery in Berrien County.
Blake Talley, Ben Mathis, Chad Mathis, Gabe Mathis, Ricky Mathis, Terry Mayne, Gary Smith, David Carr and Van Belflower served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Will Mathis and Matthew Tucker.
Born September 18, 1928, in Enigma (Berrien County), Mr. Mathis was the son of the late John E. Mathis, Sr. and Doris Ann Danforth Mathis. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Vondell Mathis. He was the owner of Mathis and Son Produce; and he was a Christmas tree farmer and retailer. He was of the Baptist faith; and he had lived in Tifton since 1955.
Mr. Mathis is survived by his former wife, to whom he was married for 30 years, Bessie Lassiter Mathis of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Melvin and Marlene Mathis and Neal and Becky Mathis, all of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Elaine and Glenn Tucker of Irwin County; one step-son and his wife, Larry and Pat Schwalls of Tifton; one brother, Cyrus Mathis of Tifton; one sister, Retha Smith of Macon; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.