James Franklin Mathis, 74, of Lakeland, passed away Thursday evening June 19, 2008, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born Jan. 29, 1934, in Berrien County, Ga., to the late James Fountain and Eunie Tyson Hall Mathis. He was a brick mason and farmer for more than 30 years. He worked for the J.H. Harvey Company for the past 23 years. He was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lakeland, Ga. He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Michelle Crawford.

Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Rita E. Mathis of Lakeland, Ga.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Joy and Jimmy Bearden, Dallas, Ga., Lydia and Buddy Selph, Homerville, Ga., Judy and Goober Luke, Nashville, Ga.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Allen and Rose Mathis, Homerville, Ga., Hank and Mary Anna Mathis, Lakeland, Ga.; stepdaughters, Karlyn Smith, Waycross; stepson, Brad and Lisa Proulx, Lakeland, Ga.; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mattie Goss, Fanning Springs, Fla., Patsy Underwood, Chiefland, Fla., brother and sister-in-laws, Robert and Janice Mathis, Chiefland, Fla.; mother in-law, Lela Bryars, Waycross; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2008, in the Lakeland Chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Fender Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday, June 22, 2008, from 2– 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com. — Music Funeral Services of Lakeland.