Otis Jack Matthews

Otis Jack Matthews COLUMBIA - Otis Jack Matthews went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 13, 2013. "Jack" was born September 26, 1927 in Evansville, Indiana. He was born again (spiritually this time) on December 29, 1961 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. As a young man in Evansville, Jack was an All-State high school basketball player in 1944 and 1945, playing on two state championship teams at Bosse High School. He also played at Purdue University and the University of Evansville where he graduated in 1950 with a BS degree in Business Administration. In 1950, Jack married his childhood sweetheart, Betty Lou Dail, also of Evansville. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage before Jack went to Heaven. During that time, God blessed them with five children: Jim, Judy, John, Julie and Jenny. They have 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with one on the way. As a young father, Jack owned his own real estate business in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In 1964, Jack, Betty and their children moved to Columbia, SC to study at Columbia Bible College (now known as Columbia International University) so they could prepare for missionary service in South Africa. After missionary work in South Africa, God led Jack back to Columbia Bible College where he served as Dean of Men, Men's Athletic Director and basketball and soccer coach. In 1977, Jack was led back into Real Estate where he served as Broker in Charge for 19 years with Russell & Jeffcoat's metro office in Columbia. During that time he was Director of the Columbia Board of Realtors and an instructor for the SC Real Estate Board of Realtors. He was Chairman of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), an elder at First Presbyterian Church and a deacon at Shandon Baptist Church. He spoke at more than 250 meetings across the United States for CBMC (Christian Business Men's Committee International) and CWC (Christian Women's Club-Stonecroft.) He was a board member emeritus at Ben Lippen School. Jack loved golf and his golfing buddies, playing cards and spinners with "the group," and most of all he loved sharing with anyone who would listen, how they can have peace with God and assurance of life in Heaven. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Shandon Baptist Church on Forest Drive in Columbia with Rev. Dick Lincoln, Rev. Barry Gray and Dr. Robertson McQuilkin presiding. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ben Lippen School, 7401 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203.