Robert E. Mathews Jr.

Family-Placed Obituary

ROBERT E. MATHEWS Jr. Robert Earl Mathews, Jr., 78, of Hayesville, NC, formerly of Belle Glade, FL died on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at NorthEast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA. The funeral service was held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 5, at the graveside in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Dawson with Pastor Jim Payne and Pastor Walter Kenny officiating. Mr. Mathews was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on March 7, 1929, son of the late Robert Earl Mathews Sr. and Margaret Darden Mathews. He was a graduate of Belle Glade High School and Stetson University College of Law where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Fraternity and the National Honor Society of Scabbard and Blade. He served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant in 1953 and 1954 after his graduation from law school. He was an attorney in Belle Glade for 37 years, a partner in the law firm of Alan, Mathews & Baker and served as a Municipal Court Judge in Belle Glade for 15 years. He was a Rotarian and co-founder of the Bank of Belle Glade where he served on the Board of Directors for a number of years. He retired in 1990 and moved to Hayesville, NC where he and his wife, Shirley, enjoyed an active life in their community. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Hayesville. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Robert Earl Mathews, III. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Shirley Connell Mathews of Hayesville, NC; a son, Charles G. Mathews and his wife, Roseiline of Cuthbert; a daughter-in-law, Karen Ashley Mathews of Greensboro, NC; six grandchildren: Robert E. Mathews, IV, Melissa Mathews Pulumbo and husband, Michael, Terri Lynn Mathews, Victoria Lynn Taylor and her husband, Eddie, Robert A. Taylor, III, and Kimberly Ann Taylor; and two great-grandchildren: Riley and Dylan Taylor. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 50 Marvin Cabe Lane, Hayesville, NC 28904 or to your local chapter of the Gideons International. HARVEY FUNERAL HOME P.O. Box 799 Dawson, GA 39842 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries