John Sanford Matthews, 79 died Sunday, April 27 in Tallahassee. A memorial service will be held Monday, May 5, 11 am at
B. Marion Reed funeral home in Tampa (813) 289-4229

John was born March 4, 1929 in Tampa, FL  He graduated from Hillsborough High School, University of Florida & Stetson Law School. He served in the Army during the Korean War Conflict. He was an aid to Florida Senator Robert Gautier,.  He was an assistant Attorney General under Richard Ervin and an attorney for the Municipal Code Corporation all in Tallahassee. He served as an aid to US Congressman Billy Matthews, and as an attorney for the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington DC. He returned to Tampa in 1958 to join Macfarlane, Ferguson, Allison & Kelly law firm going into private practice in 1968.  In 1970 he was elected a member of the Florida Democratic Executive Committee serving 4 years. In 1977 he was duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the United States. After retirement John traveled extensively before settling on St. George Island, Florida in the mid 90's

Survivors include his son John Matthews, Jr., and his son's mother Susanna Buie Matthews both of Tallahassee and his brother-in-law John Canning, and nephew John Patrick Canning both of Tampa and a host of cousins in Alabama.  He was preceded in death by his sister Barbara Ann Matthews Canning and his parents Ernest B 'Dixie' Matthews and Willie Mae Donalson Matthews.


Published: Wednesday, 30 April 2008 Tampa Tribune & Tallahassee Democrat