Robert "Matt" Mathews Sullins Jr

Matt was born March 11, 1986, in Griffin, Ga. After attending Spalding High School, he graduated from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. where he served as Bravo Company Commander. At Hargrave, Matt was awarded Athlete of the Year for his excellence on the swim team where his specialty was the butterfly stroke and was named state champion for his participation in the 400 medley relay and 400 free style relay. These Virginia state records stand today. Matt swam competitively at the collegiate level at Indian River State College and was a state level Special Olympics swimming coach. After spending time in various businesses, Matt returned to Georgia to attend Gordon College in 2008, where he founded the Gordon College Swim Club. Recently, he completed a two month Divemaster internship in Roatan, Honduras where he obtained his PADI Divemaster certification. Matt was excited to combine two of his lifelong passions: being in the ocean and being with people.

Matt loved life, family, and everyone he met. His outgoing, loving personality will be missed by those who were blessed to know him.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandfather, Thomas Pickard Calvert and grandmother, Eva Heath Sullins.

Survivors include his parents Robert Mathews Sullins and Karol Calvert Sullins; sister, Lauren Sullins Ralls and her husband Robert of Atlanta, Ga.; brother, Jackson Walker Sullins of Griffin, Ga.; grandmother Peggy Jean Calvert of Griffin, Ga.; grandfather Hubert Walker Sullins Sr. of Griffin, Ga.; nephew, Robert Culver Ralls Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; aunts and uncles Nancy Calvert Massey and her husband Scott of Ponte Vedra, Fl., Phillip Pickard Calvert of Baltimore, Md., Anne Sullins Westmoreland and her husband Aubrey of LaGrange, Ga., Beth Sullins Hughes and her husband Robert of Macon, Ga., Hubert Walker Sullins Jr. and his wife Annette of Alpharetta, Ga.; cousins Hanks and Davis Massey of Ponte Vedra, Fl., John and Fiona Westmoreland and their children Mary Maddox and Grady of LaGrange, Ga., Steve and Amber Westmoreland and their children Hailey and Carter of Lagrange, Ga., Robert Hughes of Savannah, Ga., Kelly Hughes of Macon, Ga., Ellenor Sullins of Alpharetta, Ga., and Walker Sullins of Alpharetta, Ga.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Mathews Sullins, Jr. will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at the First Baptist Church of Griffin with Dr. Bill Hardee officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service at the church from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Old Section of Oak Hill Cemetery.

Serving as casket bearers are Ryan Taylor, Keaton Bonner, Dane Bonner, Wesley Flanagan, Bill Stikes, Doug Wynn, John Newton and Walter Moore.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Griffin Historical Society or chapel fund of First Baptist Church of Griffin.