John Matthew Dinkins

DINKINS — John Matthew Dinkins passed away April 13, 2017. Matt was born February 27, 1965 to Jean Southward Dinkins and John Kerry Dinkins in Hendersonville, NC. He and his family moved to Orange Park in 1969. He graduated from Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA in 1983. His love of the outdoors and civic duty was fostered by his many years spent in Boy Scouts, culminating with him attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Matt went on to study Biology at the University of North Florida and enjoyed a long career as a senior biologist and consultant in Jacksonville. He used to say that he loved that he got paid to play in the woods! Matt was a longtime volunteer of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and was a former board member of the North Florida Chapter. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Ellmaker Dinkins, his two daughters that he cherished above all, Lillian Dinkins and Caroline Dinkins, his mother Jean Dinkins, his sister Laura Maierhoffer (John), his brother Ben Dinkins (Lisha), and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father John Dinkins. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Camp Chowenwaw, 1517 Ball Rd, Green Cove Springs, FL on Thursday, April 20 at 4:00p.m. An interment will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.