James Shields Matthews III

James Shields Matthews III, passed away peacefully at his residence after an extended illness on November 30, 2014. Born August 24, 1943, he was the son of James S. and Lyna Flowers Matthews. Jim is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sharon Brewer Matthews; his daughter, Mary Jane and husband, Dr. Alton Lee Hunter, Jr. of Columbia, TN; and his son, Lt. Col. James S. Matthews IV and wife, Mindy Keefer Matthews of Honolulu, HI. Mr. Matthews had four grandchildren, Mary Charles (Chase) Hunter, Alton Lee (Trey) Hunter III, Leah Ann Matthews, and James S. Matthews V. He is also survived by his sister, Lina Matthews Bowyer and husband Fred Bowyer of Jackson, TN; sister, Sara Matthews Holmes of Memphis, TN; his brothers-in-law, Charlie Brewer, Jr. and wife Linda Brewer of Lawrenceburg, TN, and Tom Brewer and wife Sally Brewer of Panama City, FL; and by many nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Elmore Holmes.Jim graduated from Jackson High School and was U.S. Senate Page under the late Senator Ester Kefauver. He continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and in the Army ROTC program. At graduation, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and married his college sweetheart, Sharon Brewer Matthews. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War, stationed at Fort Totten, NY where he was promoted to First Lieutenant.Jim began his career in finance in Nashville, TN as a National Bank Examiner with the U.S. Treasury Department and later became a trust officer for The National Bank of Commerce and Union Planters Bank in Jackson, TN. He also was a commodities and securities broker with J.C. Bradford and Company. He later returned to banking at Regions Bank before retiring. Jim served his community for many years as a member and Chairman of the Budget Committee for the Madison County Commission and was a member of the Lion's Club.Jim served on the board of directors and the Episcopal Day School. He was a member of First United Methodist Church for most of his life, was a member of the Religion For Life Sunday School class and went on many church mission trips through the years.His favorite pastimes were boating, hunting, and horseback riding. He loved helping out at Elmwood Place, the Matthews family farm. He later managed the farm, designated by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Center for Historic Preservation as a Century Farm, having been in his family for almost 160 years. Jim and his wife Sharon developed Matthews Woods subdivision on land which had been a part of the Matthews farm that his great-great-grandfather bought in 1855.The family wishes to thank Hospice of West Tennessee for their gentle comforting care of Mr. Matthews and to thank the team of caregivers who devoted many hours lovingly caring for him.Services for Jim will be held in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church of Jackson on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 11 a.m., Rev. Dan Camp and Rev. Jeff Rudy will officiate the service. The family will receive friends in Disciple Hall from 10-11 a.m., one hour prior to the service in the church sanctuary.In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Jackson or the Wounded Warrior Project.