James E. Mathis, Jr.

It is tempting to define an accomplished individual by their achievements – especially ones so grand and lasting as what James E. Mathis, Jr., brought to his community.

But to do so is to miss the man himself. And when people remember what Jim meant to Gainesville/Hall County, to his friends and colleagues, and, most especially, his family, they remember the kindness, the positivity, and the determination that forged a legacy.

So, while others may talk of The Atlanta ’96 Olympics, The North Georgia Community Foundation, banking, education, or a list of awards that could fill a warehouse, those that knew him well reflect on Jim’s keen wit, unique thinking, and a spirit of adventure – one that left us to be with His Lord and Savior on Jan. 29, 2024.

Living life as the son of a community visionary and leader – in that same community – is not easy. Yet Jim, who was born on Dec. 11, 1946, the first son of James E. Mathis, Sr., and Frances Miller Mathis, followed fearlessly in his father’s footsteps. That he did so while carving his own inimitable path was down to a combination of his father’s boundless imagination governed by his mother’s rooted practicality and warmth. The result was a nuanced leadership style – one that so often captured hearts and minds and certainly won friends the world over.

He was also dearly loved by devoted wives Kathy Mathis (deceased) and Robin Mathis, as well as revered by his children and stepchildren, who are blazing similar trails. His grandchildren too are recipients of a boundless spirit, and Jim thrilled in his last days by watching them take their own first steps in leadership in their communities.

Jim’s commitment to community stemmed from a desire to help, and while it earned him countless accolades – starting with his Eagle Scout in 1963 and included the Jaycees Young Man of the Year (1981) and Rotary Club Man of the Year (1997) – it was never about the awards. Rather it was about the quest and what he would find along the way, that truly excited him.

It was part of a passion for trying new things, one that led to some unforgettable moments and a few surprises. Such as the time he shocked his first wife Kathy, a Habersham County native whom he married in 1975, with a new house (that she had yet to see). Children Kelly and Katie also received countless treats, including the odd dog or cat (to the occasional chagrin of Kathy). More than just flippant whims, Jim’s pursuits led him to a private pilot’s license and several family outings into the wild blue yonder – weather permitting of course. His children still chuckle about numerous midair turnarounds when approaching skies darkened, and winds accelerated.

When it came to family, safety was always paramount. When it came to other aspects of his life, Jim wasn’t about to cut the trip short.

That included a posting to Seoul, South Korea, in 1969-70, where he was stationed with the U.S. Army Signal Corps (after graduation from Mercer University). The food and weather in Korea left Lieutenant Mathis dreaming of home, however. And upon his return, his adventures led him to Washington D.C. where he served as a legislative and press aide to US Congressman Phil M. Landrum. Jim also undertook graduate studies at Georgetown University and worked as a financial analyst for the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. The role in banking suited him, and so he continued in the footsteps of his father – but, as ever, with his own style.

He returned to his hometown of Gainesville – where he played saxophone in the high school marching band and sparked his leadership skills in Boy Scout Troop 26. There, he helped helm his father’s Home Federal Savings and Loan (which eventually became Home Trust, Trust Company Bank, SunTrust, and now Truist Bank) for almost 20 years. Jim served as bank president for more than 12 of those years, and it was during this time that Jim’s dedication to the community began to carve out a unique legacy.

He served on countless boards, including the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, Gainesville/Hall County Development Authority, Northeast Georgia Medical Center Strategic Planning Committee, Gainesville Community Development Advisory Committee, Lanier Park Regional Hospital, Elachee Advisory Board, Gainesville College Advisory Board, and

Main Street Gainesville Board of Directors, to name but a few. And when the challenge arose to help bring a part of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games to his hometown, he could not resist. Partnering with fellow philanthropists Steve Gilliam and Mary Hart Wilheit, Jim threw himself into the project and helped to seal Gainesville/Hall’s presence in the ’96 Games via a method that seems apocryphal but is, in fact, 100 percent true.

Jim presented his case to various Olympic committees in glass, literally.

When asked why Gainesville/Hall was the correct site for the Games’ sprint canoe/kayak and rowing competitions, Jim produced a glass jar – brimming with water scooped from the Clarks Bridge stretch of Lake Lanier, a site that offers the exact conditions flatwater competitors crave. Other potential venues required massive construction and water development, something that Jim felt was unnecessary in the face of natural perfection. His instincts and the debate skills honed at Mercer helped win the day, leading to the creation of the Lake Lanier Olympic Park, which brought the Games to northeast Georgia and remains a point of pride for Gainesville/Hall.

Following Olympic successes Jim turned to his next adventure – but his community remained his inspiration. Taking charge of the North Georgia Community Foundation as president and CEO in 1998, Jim helped spearhead widespread charitable funds and philanthropic pursuits. That included helping found Georgia Mountain Food Bank, which he identified as a need before rallying community support for its establishment. While in charge of the Community Foundation, Jim also helped grow total charitable assets from $3 to $50 million and total assets managed to more than $170 million. Those assets benefited numerous endeavors across the region and set the stage for a community foundation that thrives to this day.

Yet while he supported and steered others, always at his heart were his family and friends, including a deep commitment to his church – First Baptist of Gainesville. And it was on these people and pillars that he leaned when his first wife, Kathy, received a cancer diagnosis in 2003. Kathy ultimately succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2004, following a courageous battle during which Jim never left her side.

While he would never totally recover from Kathy’s loss, Jim’s heart found healing and renewed spirit in his relationship with Robin Reese, whom he married in 2006. The couple cherished their years together, and the inspiration he received from this relationship – combined with the addition of five grandchildren to his life – proved nourishing for this natural optimist. And it was their love and affection that helped buoy his spirits when his own health began to decline.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, Jim faced down his own concerns with valor and resolution. Even during what proved to be his final challenge, he refused to be sidelined, maintaining an active role in a family – and community – that he cultivated to blossom and grow.

Jim Mathis will forever be missed by his friends and family, and his community will forever be grateful that his adventurous spirit never strayed too far, too long from his native northeast Georgia.

Jim was preceded in death by wife Kathryn Reeves Mathis, brother Philip Mathis, and parents James E. Mathis, Sr., and Frances Miller Mathis. Jim left behind a loving family, including wife Robin Mathis, daughters Kelly Lee (Morgan) and Katie Dubnik (Matthew), stepdaughter Lori Reese Patton (Macon), grandchildren Caroline and Isabel Lee, James and Davis Dubnik, and Mac Patton. He also leaves behind brother Gregory Mathis (Sally) and sister-in-law Sue Mathis.

A memorial service will take place on Sunday, February 4, at 2 p.m. at Lake Lanier Olympic Park at 3105 Clarks Bridge Rd. in Gainesville. The family will receive well-wishers following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mathis Family Community Hope Fund at the North Georgia Community Foundation (NGCF). Checks should be made payable to NGCF and include the Mathis Family Community Hope Fund on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to 340 Jesse Jewell Parkway SE, Suite 605, Gainesville, GA 30501. Donations to the Fund can also be made online at: www.ngcf.org/donate.