Joe Corbett Mathis, 89, died peacefully on January 6, 2024, at his home, surrounded by family.  He was born on August 17, 1934 and raised on the family homestead in Jennings, FL.  He was the youngest of four children.   The house he was born in was built by his great, great, great grandfather in 1862. Joe lived in this house until building the home he presently lived in which sits directly behind where the old farm house once stood.  He attended Jennings High School and played baseball as a second baseman and pitcher before graduating in 1953.

Joe married the love of his life, Jacqueline "Jackie" McCullers, in 1958.

Joe began farming at an early age, left to care for his mother.  His two uncles, Wallace and Charlie Deas, took him under their wings and taught him about farming.  He eventually began farming on his own starting with just 5 acres of tobacco. Joe continued to farm into his 80s until his health would no longer allow it. Farming was his passion.

Joe had an appreciation for the outdoors.  He loved deer hunting.  He was a member of the Gopher Hunting Club for many years.  He loved hearing the sound of the hounds when they jumped a deer.  Many nights were spent sitting around the campfire enjoying fellowship with family and friends sharing stories. Many afternoons after deer hunting he would sit on the banks of the Suwannee River fishing for catfish. He loved to eat fish as much as he loved catching them.

In his later years, he took up golfing and fell in love with the game.  One Father's Day, he hit a hole in one on hole 5 at Suwannee Valley Country Club.  That was one of his favorite golf stories he liked to tell.

After his wife passed away, he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.  He endured weekly trips to the cancer doctor and then had to receive bi-weekly blood transfusions for over the past 3 years.  He fought a hard battle.

On Monday morning, December 18, his family thought they had lost him.  In the following days, as friends and loved ones heard of Joe being placed under Hospice Care, God gave Joe the strength to have many friends and family over to visit and reminisce with him.  It was a true blessing.

Joe could tell you who lived where, who they were related to, and who owns and once owned almost every piece of property on this side of the Alapaha River.  A true Hamilton County treasure has been lost.  He was a member of Burnham Christian Church.

Joe is survived by his much loved companion, Charlene Howell; his two children, Jorrie Mathis (Nancy) of Jennings and Menieca Kennedy (Allen) of Jasper; his six grandchildren: Tristan (Sarah) Mathis, Lance Mathis, Nicole Parrish (Clay), Ashleigh Hart (Tyson), Alli Kennedy, and Alden Walker (Jared); his seven great-grandchildren: Millie and Archie Mathis, Clyde and Don Parrish, Kyler and Tynleigh Hart, and Jacqueline Walker; his brother, Worlie (LaVern) Mathis of Jacksonville; his sister-in-law, Barbara Peaden (Miles) of Live Oak; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years and mother of his two children, Jacqueline McCullers Mathis; his mother, Mary Deas Mathis, his father, Raymond Mathis, and two of his brothers, Raymond Mathis and Clifford Mathis.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 9 at Harry T. Reid Funeral Home in Jasper, FL from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  A funeral service to celebrate the life of Joe will be held Wednesday, January 10 at Burnham Christian Church in Jennings, FL at 11 a.m.  Interment will follow at New Hope Church Cemetery in Jennings, FL.