Obituary of James Eugene Matthews

James Eugene Matthews, 80, husband of Annette Hill Matthews, died Saturday, August 15, 2015, at the Lexington Medical Center in Lexington, SC. Born in Sanford, NC, he was the son of the late James Daniel Matthews and Harriett Virginia Durant Matthews. Following his being awarded a BS in Architecture in 1957, he received a BA in Architecture from Clemson College in 1958. Gene was licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina, and he was associated with the Sumter firm of James, Durant, Matthews, and Shelley, Inc. His many years of service with the South Carolina Board of Architectural Examiners culminated with his chairmanship in 2004. The City of Sumter was the beneficiary of his selfless service as Chairman of the Planning Commission. He served with the South Carolina Health System Agency, Pee Dee Regional Health Agency, and South Carolina Health Coordinating Council. His devotion to health care culminated with his Chairmanship of the Counsel of Aging. He was a loyal churchman having served as Trustee chairman of Trinity United Methodist Church. Gene was a graduate of the Palmetto Military Academy and was an officer with South Carolina National Guard. His Rotary membership spanned over 32 years. Gene’s skill as an architect can be seen in many churches to include Aldersgate Methodist Church, Alice Drive Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Georgetown, Mayesville Presbyterian Church, and his own house of worship, Trinity United Methodist Church of Sumter. His work with the Sumter County Courthouse renovations, Sumter Fire Department, Sumter County Mental Health Center, Sumter’s Patriot Hall Auditorium, the Sumter Gallery of Art, and the USC Sumter Administration Building will long stand as memories of his love for Sumter. Gene’s work can be seen in the current Sumter High School, Alice Drive Elementary, Willow Drive Elementary, Bates Middle School, and two career schools in Sumter County. Hampton County counts six schools of his design while Union High School and Woodruff Elementary were constructed pursuant to his designs. His expertise in the design of health care facilities can be seen at Covenant Place in Sumter, Bethea Baptist Home, Pee Dee Manor of South Carolina, and three campuses of Presbyterian Homes in Summerville, Columbia and Clinton. Many South Carolinians have enjoyed over eighty homes of his design. Surviving are his wife, Annette; two sons, Dan (Lynn) of Camden and Eugene (Beth) of Columbia; five grandchildren, Roland, Elizabeth Anne, Hamilton, Madison, and Meg Matthews; one sister, Susan of Kingsport, Tennessee; and one brother-in-law, Henry P. Moore of Pawley’s Island; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Wyatt Matthews Moore, and a brother-in-law, David Pond. Memorial services will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Steve Holler and Rev. Angela Marshall officiating and Donald Edwin Huss, organist. The family will receive friends following the service and other times at the home. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 226 West Liberty Street, Sumter, South Carolina, 29150, Sumter Gallery of Art, 200 Hasel Street, Sumter, South Carolina, 29150, or Clemson University School of Architecture, AIA Student Chapter, Lee Hall, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements.