Franklin Mathews Obituary
Franklin Myers “Frankie” Mathews died at his home on September 3, 2026. He was born on December 5, 1950 in Newton, North Carolina . He was the youngest of three children of William Andy “Bill” & Frances Lettie Jane Mitchell Mathews. There were 13 years between Frankie & the eldest, Daniel Berry Mathews and 7 years between Frankie and his sister, Eunice Ann Mathews Scavio. His mom always said there were 7 years between all of her children.
Frankie grew up in Great Falls, SC. He was a Boy Scout and member of the 4 H club. He loved fishing, building model cars, and Watching Gunsmoke with his daddy. He always said his daddy was the only man to shoot Matt Dillon.
In high School, he drove a school bus. After graduating from Great Falls high school in 1969, he worked at JP Stevens in Great Falls.
He joined the Great Falls rescue Squad. He was bitten by the rescue bug. A large part of it was due to a TV show, “Emergency”. He could quote Johnny Gauge. In 1979, he passed his first EMT class. The year later, he went to Paramedic School in Columbia. He was hired at Chester County EMS. In 1988, he was lured to cross the Nitrolee bridge & join Lancaster County EMS. He has had too many EMS partners to list everyone. Some of his first partners in Chester was James Knox, Kenneth Craig, Jack Simpson, Jr, David Camp, and Chuck Payne. Over the years, he held different titles. He was in many paramedic competitions.
He enjoyed being a paramedic and helping others in their most difficult and Scarey times. He worked Lancaster & Chester EMS. He officially retired from EMS in 2021, but he returned to part time status. He was a paramedic for 46 years.
Frankie had the clearest blue eyes. Those eyes could see into your soul. He had mastered the art of the “Eye Roll.” The most used word in his vocabulary was “Huh”. It was the #1 answer to any question. He had selective hearing by turning his good ear away from the person talking or turning his hearing aids up or down.
He enjoyed pond, river, & deep sea fishing. Later in life, some of his hobbies changed or expanded, He enjoyed RV camping, jet ski & boat riding, riding his wife’s Clemson golf cart, motorcycling, traveling, and eating Lance’s cheese with peanut butter crackers. He was a closet Clemson Football fan. He was Dukes Mayonnaise’s biggest fan.
He enjoyed drag racing from being the driver to being a fan. Shuffle Town & Darlington were his favorite drag tracks. Never missed a big race at either strip until they were closed or removed from IHRA line up.
He was involved in many organizations. He was a Master Mason at Jackson Lodge 53 AFM and a member of York Rites. He was a proud Shriner. He was on the Board of Jackson Shrine club, Shrine Race Committee, and Fish Fry Crew. “There’s no Jaz like Hejaz.”
He married his second wife, Cassie Weathersbee Mathews in 1992. They enjoyed traveling. Favorite locations were Sturgis, SD, Memphis, Tennessee, Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Omaha, Nebraska. They loved Dollywood and held season passes for many, many years. They traveled to many Biker Rallies & Swap Meets over the years across the country. Over the last 15 years, they regularly could be seen camping at Lake Wateree State Park.
He always got a kick out of people telling him, he earned sainthood for putting up with Cassie. He would tell them, if she starts rattling on, he just turned his hearing aids down. They had many furbabies over the years. They fostered furbabies and was involved in doggie transports. Current furbabies are Brinkley Franklin Hiram Valentine Mathews, David Coleman Fitzgerald Mathews, and Alda Tilitha Ida Jane Mathews.
He was a long standing member of Trinity Motorcycle Club; Kershaw & Lancaster Chapters. He really enjoyed their annual July Jam. He held many positions over the years. FTTF!!! He enjoyed the brotherhood.
He was involved in many motorcycle related groups & clubs: ABATE of Lancaster, ABATE of South Carolina, ABATE of Chester, ABATE of York County, SC Coalition of Motorcycle Clubs, and NCOM.
He loved riding his Harley Davidson. He owned 3 Harleys over the years. He planned to get a Harley Trike after he was finished with his current treatment plan.
For many years, his EMS buddies and he would make an annual trip to Tame the Tail of the Dragon. The Ride Crew: Sonny Plyler, David Camp, Ken Vick, John Loftin, Tim Clemmer, and Dick Mann to name a few. They enjoyed taking the long, long, long way from South Carolina to the NC & Tennessee Mountains and back always avoiding I-40. The crash truck always beat them to the destination by six plus hours.
Frankie enjoyed being outdoors and even yard work. Coleman (13 yr old rescue Chiweenie) was his yard work side kick and landscaping supervisor.
Frankie loved food. He thought he wasn’t getting his money worth unless it was a buffet & he was hungry. He loved the Shrimp & Grits at the Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC. He had his All Star favorite restaurants over the years: Lizard’s Thicket, Shoney’s, Wade’s, Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse, K & W cafeteria, Quincy’s, Brenda Kay’s, Leigh Anne’s, Lancaster Steakhouse, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Country Daughter’s Buffet, Ranch Steakhouse, & Mary’s Cafe. His favorite meal was always breakfast, he could eat it any time of day. He never met a boiled peanut he didn’t like.
He loved Ida Pardue’s coconut cake, fried apple pies, & chicken-n-dumplings and Alda Richardson’s sticky buns. He only loved his Mama’s Potato Salad. There wasn’t a McCoy, Pardue, Epworth Children’s Home, or Starnes family reunion potluck he didn’t enjoy. He was a big fan of anything Annette Snipes cooked. He was a master chef for oyster stew, salmon stew, and catfish stew. He could fry an egg & make hamburger helper.
He enjoyed going to comedy shows & country music concerts. Favorite comedians: Ron White, Jeff Dunham & Peanut, Jay Hickman, Jerry Crowder, Larry the Cable Guy, The 3 Stooges, Jerry Lewis, and his great grandson, Nick Barrs. He went to many country music concerts at biker Rallies, State fairs, and local venues.
He had been a notary for a three decades and married many couples. He would tell the couple, he could help them get married but they were on their own if they wanted out of it.
He was an ardent 2nd amendment supporter. He was a long time member of the NRA. He had his concealed weapon permit for many years until the law changed to open carry.
He had a horseshoe shaped kidney and long history of kidney stones. On February 14,
2023, he had kidney cancer & staghorn kidney stones removed. It took 2 surgeons over 9 hours to remove. He had been in remission until July 1, 2026. His kidney cancer traveled to his lungs. He started Immunotherapy August 5, 2026 to fight the cancer.
Survivors:
Wife, Cassie Michael Mathews
Children: Wendy Gail Mathews Barrs and Scotty Wayne Mathews. Son-n-law: Tracy Edward Barrs
Grandchildren: Amanda Michelle Barrs, Joshua Edward “Josh” Barrs, Miranda Barrs and Granddaughter -n-law, Lacy Riggins Barrs
Great Grandchildren: Nicholas “Nick” Edward Barrs, Caidence Diane Barrs, and Ethan Edward Barrs
Only survivor of his immediate birth family is his brother, Daniel “Dan” Mathews, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
~Extended Family~
Nieces & Nephews:
Danny Lee Mathews, Sr
Donnie Mathews
Jeff Scavio
Tammy Scavio
Debbie Scavio
Brian Scavio
David Scavio
Tony Scavio
Great Nieces & Great Nephews:
Collin Hentgess
Mandy Scavio
Matthew Scavio
Kayla Vocelka
Ambur Scavio
Nick Scavio
Maria Scavio
Anthony Scavio
Aiden Scavio
Warren Spears II
Erica Butler
Kim Miller
April Spears
Joshua Spears
Douglas Spears
Preceded in death By his parents; sister, Eunice “Sis”Mathews Scavio; Niece, Virginia Gail Mathews Spears; brother-n-law, Walt Scavio; sister-n-law, Gretchen Palmer Mathews; great grandson, Joshua Edward Barrs, Jr.; Maternal Grandparents, Solomon Berry Mitchell & Lula Sanford Mitchell Crawford; Paternal Grandparents, Daniel Benjamin & Mabel Idell Baker Matthews; Father-n-Law, “Big Gary” Weathersbee; Mother-n-law, Ann Pardue Dagenhart; Brother-n-Law, David “DAG” Dagenhart; Ex-Wife, Sandra “Pnut” Blair Blanks; Ex Daughter-n-Law, Becky Adams Mathews
He will be crossing Nitrolee Bridge one last time with Chuck Payne leading the convoy. Frankie will be buried with his parents at Greenlawn Cemetary.
Visitation & Service will be at Burgess Funeral Home, 1800 Charlotte Hwy,, Lancaster, SC. The visitation will be Friday, September 11. 2026, 6-8pm. The service will be September 12 at 2pm. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetary, Great Falls, SC.
The family will meet other times at 2029 Hough Road, Lancaster, SC.
Service Speakers:
Father Justin “Iceman” Daviault, Priest & Trinity Motorcycle Club Member
Lanny Bernard, retired EMS director
Josh Faulkenberry, Paramedic
EMS honor guard
Gravesite Service:
Masonic Rights
Donald Hyatt, retired paramedic
Sonny Plyler, retired paramedic
