Thomas Homer Matthews, Jr., 79, of Chula passed away Monday, December 15, 2003, at Tift Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 18, 2003, at Chula's First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dan Eidson and the Rev. David H. Matthews officiating. Mr. Matthews was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mr. Matthews' nephews served as pallbearers.
Born December 3, 1924, in Tift County, Mr. Matthews was the son of the late Bessie Walters Matthews and the Rev. Thomas Homer Matthews, Sr. Before retiring, he was the owner and operator of Georgia Printing Company in Tifton; and he was a member of Chula's First Baptist Church, where he was a retired deacon. He was also a United States Army veteran and served during World War II. He was a respected member of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association; and he and his wife spent their retirement years growing pecans, raising horse and enjoying children, grandchildren, friends and family. Not only did he rear his own children, he also had a positive and powerful influence on his nieces, nephews and his grandchildren.
Mr. Matthews is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Hogan Matthews of Chula; three sons, Ed Matthews of Locust Grove and Jim Matthews and the Rev. David Matthews, both of Gainesville; five sisters, Wylene Jackson, Marie Shipley and Vivian Lindsey, all of Tifton, Rith Davis of Charlotte, North Carolina and Maxine Keoughan of Macon; seven grandchildren, Brian Powell, Barry Powell, Casey Matthews, Jessica Matthews, Jamie Rogers, Jeremy Matthews and Christopher Matthews; and six great-grandchildren.