Coley Mathis

Coley Mathis died peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Dothan, Alabama. The funeral will be held at Bethel Baptist Church on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm, with visitation starting one hour prior to the service. Services will be led by Bro Jim McNeil and Dr Ricky Plummer. Pall bearers are Kenneth Hatcher, Dwight Deal, Scott Mathis, Chad Mathis, Brandon Martin and Steven McNeilI. Honorary pall bearers are members of the Charity Sunday Class. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alabama Free Will Baptist Children's Home, PO Box 8, Eldridge AL 35554; online at fwbhome.org.

Coley was born on February 11, 1941, the second of twelve children born to Talmadge and Allie Bea Hall Mathis. He grew up in Dale County and spent his adult life in Dothan. Coley worked at Twitchell Corporation for over 49 years, working his way up from machine operator to plant manager. His Twitchell family always held a special place in his heart. After retirement, Coley enjoyed several hobbies, including wood working and bee keeping. His Mathis honey was a favorite of many in the area, and he enjoyed his many repeat customers, witnessing to them about Jesus at every opportunity.

Coley loved his family deeply, and shared 65 years of marriage with his beloved wife Ann. He poured his heart into his children and grandchildren, molding their lives with his quiet words of wisdom and always pointing them to Jesus. Coley loved being big brother to his siblings and taking care of his mother until her death. He and Ann especially enjoyed hosting family Thanksgiving meals at their home since 1979, a beloved family tradition for his siblings as well as his nieces and nephews.

Above all, Coley loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He served the Lord faithfully since he accepted Christ on July 28, 1958. He taught Sunday school since he was 19 years old, teaching youth, young married, couples, and senior adult classes. He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, teaching the Charity Sunday school class from 2000 - 2024. This was one of the greatest joys of his life, and he loved every member of this class as family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ann Brown Mathis; his son Chris (Jayne) Mathis; his daughter Tonja (Larry) Sasser; his grandsons Matthew (Jessica) Sasser and Dylan Blackmon; his great grandchildren Lydia Ann and Cole Sasser; and step granddaughter Elizabeth Horn and her children Nichole and Andrew Maughan. He is also survived by 10 of his 11 siblings: Shirley Hatcher, Verdell Deal, Edna (Ed) Andrews, Larry (Myra) Mathis, Jerry Mathis, Tillman (Carolyn) Mathis, Ronnie (Carol) Mathis, Deborah Mathis, Elaine (Bill) Blue, and Kathy Kelley; and 28 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest sister, Shelby Jean Hatcher-Smith.

The family is grateful to Southern Care Hospice for the care they provided Coley in his final days, especially his nurse Donna, his aide Cierra, and his chaplain Kathy; his sitters Geneva Reynolds and Erica Daniels; and his physicians Dr Ryan Conner and Justin Casey, CRNP.