Tommy Matthews

TOMMY MATTHEWS, age 79, of Maumelle, formerly of Monticello, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 7, 1935 in Texarkana, Texas. He was the son of the late Joseph Simpson and Tommie Oudia Nichols Matthews. He graduated from Monticello High School, University of Arkansas at Monticello (A & M College) and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He worked for the Monticello School District for 33 years, retiring in 1993. He was a teacher and was principal of W.C. Whaley Elementary School for 23 years. Tommy was an avid sports participant and fan. He won numerous local and state tennis tournaments as a young man. He kept the clock at UAM basketball games for 52 years. He also kept the clock at UAM football games, Drew Central basketball games and he also took up tickets at Monticello High School football and basketball games for a number of years. In 2007, he was awarded the UAM Spirit Award for his dedication to UAM athletics. He was a Christian and a member of First Baptist Church Maumelle. He grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Monticello, where his parents and grandparents before him had also been members. He joined First Baptist Church Monticello in 1970 shortly after his son, Bynum, was born and he was a member there until his move to Maumelle in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Bynum Matthews; his son, Tommy Bynum Matthews (Traci) of Maumelle; his daughter, Ann Nichols Jones (Dexter) of St. Marys, Ga. He is survived by four grandchildren, Chellbe DeLaine and Cidnee Kiril Jones and Everett Bynum and Margaret Katharine Matthews and one brother, Joe Matthews of Pine Bluff. Memorials may be made to the Tommy Matthews Athletic Scholarship at UAM, P.O. Box 3497 Monticello, AR 71656. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel, with burial in Oakland Cemetery. Family visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. There will also be a family reception at the First Baptist Church of Maumelle Monday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. preceding the visitation in Monticello. Online guestbook: www.stephensondearman.com.