Matthew Randolph Hair

Matthew Randolph Hair, 32, of Dahlonega, entered into eternal life September 3, 2021 at North Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville from complications due to COVID. He was born May 1, 1989 in Charleston, South Carolina to Randy and Laureen Hair. The family moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina in 2001. Throughout his life Matthew exemplified what it meant to have a “servant’s heart” and relied on his deep faith to guide him. 

Matthew attended North Carolina State University where he became involved with the Catholic Campus Ministry group and heard God’s call to serve the Church through ministry. He helped found the Knights of Columbus Rev. Joseph McNamara Council #14422 while at NC State. He decided to transfer to Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio to pursue a degree in theology and catechetics to become a youth minister. While at Franciscan University, Matthew joined the household Lion of Judah, went on mission trips, and served as a CORE member with a local EDGE youth group. He graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in theology and catechetics in 2014. After graduation he moved back home to work as the youth minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brevard, North Carolina. Eventually he returned to Franciscan University to pursue his Master’s degree and was the Residence Director of St. Francis Hall. Matthew then moved to Dahlonega, Georgia to serve as the youth minister at St. Luke the Evangelist’s parish and Catholic campus minister for University of North Georgia. He loved sharing his faith and encouraging the youth and young adults to draw closer to God.

He enjoyed sports, cooking, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends. He played sports from elementary school through high school, including karate, football, basketball, and soccer. Matthew also loved to go fly fishing with his dad and Uncle Herbie. He learned how to cook by helping his mother in the kitchen starting at the age of two and carried that passion with him always. For over 10 years he and his family volunteered with Bounty of Bethlehem every Christmas in Hendersonville. Matthew served as a missionary for two summers at Life Teen’s Camp Covecrest and went on mission trips to Haiti with Life Teen and Arizona with Franciscan University. He was a Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council #15238 in Dawsonville, Georgia.

Matthew is survived by his parents, Randy and Laureen; his sister, Bethany; his aunt, Deborah, and her husband, Herbie, and their sons, Justin and Blake; his uncles, Steven and Jay; and his godsons, Benji and Theo.

A funeral Mass will be held at a later date in North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Luke the Evangelist’s Catholic Church’s youth ministry programs. 

To share a memory or a condolence with the family visit Matthew's online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com. 

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 North, Dahlonega, GA 30533