A dear friend to many, a lifelong teacher to hundreds of students and a colleague to literally thousands of educators and administrators in his 50 plus years in education, Dr. Milton Duane (Bud) Matthews of Madison-Ridgeland, Miss., entered to his life eternal on March 16, 2018. Dr. Matthews will be remembered for lifelong service and dedication to his Savior, to his church, and to his family, friends and colleagues.

Dr. Matthews was born in rural Neshoba County on April 3, 1938, and gave his profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior at an early age at Bluff Springs Church of God in Union. After graduating from Union High School in 1954 and East Central Community College in Decatur in 1956, Dr. Matthews earned his Bachelor’s degree, a Master of Education degree and his Doctorate in Education, all from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Dr. Matthews held teaching positions in Neshoba County Schools, Yazoo City Public Schools and Jackson Public Schools before accepting a position with the Mississippi State Department of Education Office of Compensatory Education (Federal Programs). Known for his expertise in grant writing and a leader in securing needed federal funding for public schools throughout Mississippi, Dr. Matthews retired as Director of Compensatory Education and became a consultant to countless school districts throughout Mississippi for more than 15 years and was named the 2003 Alumnus of the Year for East Central Community College in Decatur.

Dr. Matthews is survived by his sister, Mrs. Polly Matthews Gordon of Union, his nephews:  M. Craig Gordon and his wife Brenda Waller Gordon of Oxford, M. Darin Gordon and his wife Polly W. Gordon of Corinth, Texas; and Brian S. Gordon of Union; his niece Teresa Gordon Parker of Louisville and long time family member, Prentiss Parker of Philadelphia; great nieces Lanna Parker and Lara Kelle Parker of Philadelphia; and great niece Kristen Shepherd and her husband Kent of Lake Charles Louisiana; great nephew Kelly C. Lamb and his wife Brenda of Saltillo, and three great-great nieces and two great-great nephews. In addition, Milton is also survived by hundreds of cousins, colleagues and friends that he dearly loved.

Dr. Matthews was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Pauline Germany Matthews of Union, and his brother-in-law, Judge Marcus D. Gordon of Union.

Visitation for Dr. Matthews will be Wednesday, March 21, 2018, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Olde Towne Community Church, 220 Ridgeland Road in Ridgeland followed by his funeral service at the church at 11 a.m. A memorial service will then be conducted at 3 p.m. at Bluff Springs Church of God, 14990 Road 210 in Union. Interment will follow at Union City Cemetery in Union. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial to Dr. Matthews’ memory be given to the Milton D. (Bud) Matthews Scholarship Fund at East Central Community College, 275 West Broad Street, Decatur, Mississippi 39327.