William R. Matz

Will was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Billy and Betty Matz. Known as Randy to friends in college and as Will ever since, he was known for his passion for Jesus, his tenacity in legal negotiations, his pursuit of a good deal, and his love for his family. Will met his wife Carol in college at Vanderbilt. Married in 1977, Will and Carol had two children, Robert and Beth.

Will was a committed Christian, always ready to talk to others about Jesus Christ. While working with AT&T, Will's career took him to Nashville, Birmingham, Jackson, MS, and ultimately Atlanta. Will's passion was serving Christ. A deacon at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, TN, and at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, Will and Carol cared for the needs of the widows and the church. He loved to tell the story of Christ and the salvation from sin one could have through repentance and faith, often going door-to-door in his community to invite his neighbors to church. In earlier years, he sang in the church choir and ensembles and performed solos as well. In his later years, Will and Carol were members of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, where their Seasons Sunday school class was a source of great encouragement to them.

Will earned his law degree from SMU and served as in-house legal counsel for Memphis Bank and Trust before spending over thirty years with AT&T, retiring as Senior Counsel. He represented AT&T through countless negotiations, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and concessions for the company. A source of great pride for Will was his work with AT&T's engineering side, where he served as co-inventor on more than 50 patents, all of which bear his name.

At home, Will was a dedicated husband and father. He and Carol loved taking vacations to Panama City and Destin. He enjoyed working out and lifting weights, and was always willing to try something new for his kids — from gymnastics and cheerleading with his daughter Beth, to golf and scouting with his son Robert — Will always embraced change for the good of his family.

Will was preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Betty Matz.

Will is survived by Carol, his wife of 49 years; his son Robert Matz (wife Jessica) and his three children, Andrew, Katie, and Jonathan, of Hannibal, Missouri; his daughter Beth Coggins (husband Lance) and her three children, Missy Grace, Maddy, and Levi, of Birmingham, Alabama; and his brother Rusty Matz (wife Cathy) of Nashville, Tennessee.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on October 1, 2026, at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068, with a reception to follow.

On October 2, 2026, at Southern Heritage Funeral Home & Cemetery, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124, visitation will be held at 10:00 AM, followed by a service for Will at 11:00 AM, with interment to follow.

In honor and memory of Will's life, donations may be made to Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068; johnsonferry.org) or to Hannibal-LaGrange University (2800 Palmyra Road, Hannibal, MO 63401; hlg.edu).