J. E. “Jake” Mathews, 93, passed away peacefully April 25, 2018.

Mr. Mathews was born January 9, 1925 in Columbia, Louisiana. He was the only child of James R. Mathews and Emily Hendrix Mathews. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son Jerry Wayne Mathews. He was a 1942 graduate of Kelly High School, Kelly, Louisiana and attended Louisiana Tech University. Jake was a World War II veteran having served in the United States Navy Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

In 1943, while attending Georgia Tech for Naval training, he met the love of his life and his future wife, Nell Millsap of Atlanta. They were married December 28, 1944. After Jake’s discharge from the Navy in 1945, he and Nell made their home in Louisiana until moving to Atlanta in 1952. In 1980, they moved to Watkinsville, GA where they resided until 2016 when they returned to Atlanta.

Jake was employed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a circulation manager and Director of Circulation until his retirement in 1985. After a brief retirement, he began working part time as the shuttle van driver for Minish Buick Pontiac and later Mercedes-Benz of Athens where his outgoing personality made him many friends in the Athens Community.

Jake was an avid bowler his entire life and enjoyed bowling well into his eighties. He was a member of many bowling leagues in Atlanta and Athens. He and Nell enjoyed traveling to tournaments held throughout the U.S. where he competed with fellow league bowlers. Jake also enjoyed golfing, growing a vegetable garden, singing in his church choir, and traveling. He loved yearly family vacations to the beach and mountains. He never met a stranger and was always willing to help out anyone in need. His mischievous grin and twinkle in his eye will be greatly missed.

Mr. Mathews was a member of Corinth Methodist Church in Winder, Georgia.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 3:00PM at the chapel of Lord and Stephens, WEST, with Dr. Carol Strickland presiding. The family will receive friends Saturday from 2:00 until 3:00 PM at the funeral home.

Jake is survived by his wife of seventy-three years, Nell; his son, Mike Mathews (Patricia) of Conyers; daughters Joyce Smith (Steve) of Sandy Springs, and Jayne Bailey (Stan) of Athens; four grandchildren: Greg Tanner of Atlanta, Tony Mathews (Piyush) of Panama City Beach, FL, Janae Mathews Werbenec (Anthony) of Niceville, FL, and Sarah Bailey Sirzyk (David) of Brookhaven, GA; and three great-grandchildren: Jayden Mathews, Anson Werbenec, and James Sirzyk.

The family would like to thank Agape Hospice and the staff of Insignia of Sandy Springs, Anne Stephens, and Stephanie Simmons for their care, love, and compassion.

Lord and Stephens, WEST, is in charge of arrangements.

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