Jethro Matthews

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. Jethro Matthews was born in Florence County, S.C., in a small town called Cowards on May 29, 1947, to the union of Wheler Matthews and Lottie Lucas Matthews. Jethro, a retired chemical engineer for ExxonMobil, Baton Rouge, passed away at home on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, with his wife at his bedside. He was 63, a resident of Baton Rouge and a native of Sumter, S.C. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War era reaching the rank of captain. He earned two Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He was a graduate of Lincoln High School, Sumter, and the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 391, at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, for more than 30 years. Under his leadership, this troop produced more than 10 Eagle Scouts and several Life Scouts. He leaves a legacy of sweet memories for a devoted, caring wife, Cherryl; his parents, Lottie and Wheler Matthews, of Sumter; three sons, Wellington, of Columbia; Michael and wife Regina, of Atlanta; and Evan R., of Columbia; three brothers and four sisters-in-law, Frank and Joan Matthews, of Oakton, Va.; Wheler Jr. and Carilla Matthews, of Seneca, S.C.; John and Gwindolyn Matthews, of Sumter; and Louise Matthews, of Silver Springs, Md.; Henri Hammond, who was like a son, his wife, Felozia, and his sons, Jordan, Matthew and Michael Paul join the group of survivors. Grandson Noah Matthews, who was responsible for forcing Jethro into retirement, will miss "Granddaddy." Joining these are his loving aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, Alphonso Edward Matthews; and his maternal and paternal grandparents. Visitation at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, 9700 Scenic Highway, on Tuesday, April 19, was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service at the church on Wednesday, April 20, at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Jesse Bilberry Jr., pastor. Interment to follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park in the Garden of Valor.