James Richard Matthews, Sr., passed away on March 8, 2018, at Bolivar General Hospital. He was 74. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, TN.

Shortly after graduation from Memphis State University (U of M) he went to work with IBM where he stayed nearly thirty years until retirement. After leaving IBM he bought a Sundry Store in a retirement community. He enjoyed meeting and making friends along the way. He retired from this after some twenty years. To fill his retirement days he took a part-time job with Hardeman County at Whiteville, TN. He loved to fish, spending time and going to movies with his cousin, Patrick Murphy, and his life-long friend, Donald Bumpas.

He was an only child and his parents; Clara Jones Matthews and James Herthel Matthews preceded him in death. He leaves his wife, Jamie Redden Matthews, two children; a daughter, Jeannie Vaughn in Florida and a son, James R Matthews, Jr. in Virginia. He also leaves two step-children; William Parker and Cheryl Guidi and three grandchildren; Dakota Vaughn, Amber Vaughn and Jessica Matthews. He also leaves a number of cousins who have all remained close through the years.

Visitation will be at Forest Hill Cemetery at 2440 Whitten Road Whitten Road in Bartlett on Friday, March 16, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, March 17, 2018, with interment to follow.

Memorial donations may be made to Memphis Union Mission