He was born in Chester County, the son of the late Henry Lee and Lela Levada Moore Matthews. He attended school in Chester County. He was married to Mable Annette Denbow in 1974. He worked as a carpenter for Hearn Construction, electrical work for Jimmy Matthews, a truck driver for Ronnie Anderson and recently as a tree trimmer for Leon Muse.
He is survived by three sons Michael Matthews of Jackson, Jerry Matthews of Bolivar and Jonathan Burke of Henderson; a daughter Barbara Carroll of Henderson; four brothers Billy Mathis of Champayne, IL, Jimmy Matthews of Henderson, Jerry Matthews of Byron, GA and Danny Joe Matthews of Henderson; three sisters Kathleen Kilzer and Carolyn Rouse both of Henderson and Barbara Grimes of Lexington and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son Danny Lynn Matthews in 1974.