Billie Matthews

Billie Joe Matthews was born May 24, 1937, in Leesburg, Texas, the second of six children to Raymond and Rebecca Matthews. He was thirteen years old when his father passed away. His grandparents, The Truitts, owned a rose farm in Tyler, Texas and he began working in the rose fields. In the early years, they would ride to church every Sunday in a horse-drawn wagon. Later, his grandparents drove them to a Billy Graham Crusade where he accepted Christ.

The family moved to Alabama where Bill graduated from Auburn High School. He attended one year of college but left to support his mother and family. Later, after marriage and four children, he returned to college and graduated from Baptist Bible College. He began his construction career working for a church building program in Miami and was a carpenter his entire career, retiring from RC Stevens Construction at the age of 75.

Bill is survived by his wife, Peggy and three children, Jeff (Mary) Matthews, Penny Moody, Joel (Patricia) Matthews, eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, brother James (Carol) Matthews and sister-in-law Pat Matthews. He is preceded in death by his son Jason.

Services will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 11 AM, at West Orlando Baptist Church, 1006 East Crown Point Rd, Ocoee, FL, 34761.  The service will be live streamed through the church website, https://www.westorlandobaptistchurch.com/