Mr. James Thomas Matthews was born October 3, 1932 to Gwyn C. and Ada Matthews in East Bend, NC. He was the youngest of 13 children and the last living sibling.

James graduated from Yadkin High School in Boonville, NC and was married to Shirley Jean Glenn Matthews. United for 60 years, James and Shirley were blessed with four children, Beverly, Alicia, James "Donnie" and Janeia.

From 1951 to 1953, he served in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Winston-Salem and worked for Bassick Sack for 4 years. He then worked for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company and retired after 28 years of service. When he worked at RJR, no one knew him as James because everyone called him "Catfish". One day while at work, a call was received asking for James Matthews but no one knew who that was.

For over 30 years, he was a faithful member of Winston-Salem First and he truly loved his church family. There he served as an usher and a member of the Legacy Group.

James loved to garden. He also loved hunting rabbits with his prized blue blood beagle. His second passion was fishing. James raised goats. He began with one for milk, but soon had a herd of about 30-40. James said goats made terrific lawn mowers.

Although he was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Jean Glenn Matthews, he is survived by his children: Beverly (Melvin) Anthony, Alicia Wall, James "Donnie" (Susanne) Matthews, and Janeia (Jonathan) Knox; six grandchildren, Tiffany (Frank) Wilson, Eric (Erin) Anthony, Brandon Matthews, Xavier, Nicholas, and Alyssa Knox; four great-grandsons: Caden and Asa Wilson, Easton and Everson Anthony; sisters-in-law, Peggy Glenn Littlejohn and Brenda (Mack) Steadman; brother-in-law, Clyde Glenn; caregivers, Che' Collins and Aaron Barnes; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM Friday, November 29, 2024 at Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. Funeral service 11:30 AM. Saturday, November 30, 2024 in the chapel of Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. The family will greet friends thirty-minutes prior to service. Interment in Woodland Cemetery, 3123 Indiana Avenue, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

For a copy of the funeral program, click here