A native of Bude, Miss., he died Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at his residence in Greenwell Springs. He was 78 and a retired employee of ExxonMobil Plastics. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Friday, July 11, was from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visiting resumes at the funeral home on Saturday from 8 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Kevin Hand. Interment in Midway Cemetery, Meadville, Miss., on Saturday at 2 p.m. He is survived by a daughter, Sharon Kimberly Mathews, of Baton Rouge; two sons, James Edward Mathews Jr., of Gonzales, and Russel James Mathews, of Zachary; three sisters, Jeanette Hearty and Sylvia Duplessis, both of Slidell, and Dorothy Mathews, of Denham Springs; and three grandchildren. Preceded in death by his wife, Vickie French Mathews; and parents, Luther Alonzo and Gladys Gertrude Mathews. He was a member of Zoar Baptist Church and Gideon's International. Memorial donations may be made to Zoar Baptist Church or Gideon's International.
