William Franklin Mattox

Evans Funeral Home of Jefferson announces the death of Mr. William Franklin Mattox Jr., age 84 of Commerce, Georgia, who died on Flag Day on Saturday, June 14, 2025, of natural causes. Mr. Mattox, known as "Bill" "Grandpa" and "Grumpa,"was originally born in Birmingham, Alabama, but claimed Gadsden, Alabama, where he moved as a young child and grew up. Bill is the son of the late William Franklin Mattox Sr and the late Nina Aline Strickland Mattox. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Julie Hoffman Mattox.  Bill first met Julie, when both were undergraduates at Auburn, sharing a ride home to Gadsden one weekend with other students. He is also preceded in death by his aunt and uncle, Maureen "Reenie" and Jack Bell, who shared a home with his family for many years and were like second parents to Bill.   

Bill enlisted in the army during the Vietnam War, serving 1963-1965, followed by a second two-year assignment in the Army Reserves. Mr. Mattox subsequently worked and retired as a chemical salesman for US Borax Company.  Post-retirement, he returned to college and a second degree and worked several years in Special Education.  He earned degrees from both Auburn University and Eastern Michigan University. For most of his adult life,    Bill was very involved in church life, volunteering in many roles in ministry including catechist and choir and especially with his late wife, Julie, in Christian Initiation (OCIA) Cursillo team-building and retreats, fundraising, speaking with others about social justice issues and visiting sick and homebound parishioners.  He was ordained a permanent deacon in the diocese of Lansing, Michigan and served in both Michigan and Georgia parishes, before requesting and receiving a formal release from the diaconate, following the sudden passing of his wife, at the age of 56.  Until very late in life, he made a point of voting in every single election and very much enjoyed polite discourse with friends or strangers, on politics and current events, of which he had stayed very knowledgeable.

Family was important to Bill and he cheered-on and/or volunteered in various activities and graduations of his children and every summer as kids, he took his family on a beach vacation, his favorite spot being Sanibel Island. He was an avid gardener and reader, an occasional chef (with a mean eggnog recipe) who enjoyed entertaining or a good happy hour, a serious Auburn football fan and a cunning card player, in particular, at bridge and poker.  From boyhood through his life, Bill had loved and cherished several long-living dogs and all kinds of music. Late in life, he especially enjoyed regular family celebrations with good food and grandchildren, most especially with his grandchildren.  Bill received wonderful  and loving care where he was living at Brookside Commerce and passed away during exceptionally kind oversight from The Family Hospice, following time spent at his bedside by each of his children and grandchildren.  

Survivors include a daughter, Lisa Mattox Downs (Bruce) of Pensacola, FL and son, David Sean Mattox (Courtney) of Jefferson, GA. Grandson, Mason David Mattox Downs, two granddaughters, Henley and Harper Mattox, and a special "second daughter" Claire, and a goddaughter, Lauren Mitro, also survive. 

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, June 27, 2025, at 12 noon at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, Jefferson, Georgia, followed there by a lunch, hosted by the parish. His remains will be placed in a niche along with his late wife, at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests acts of kindness in his honor or memorial to Jackson County Habitat for Humanity 661 S. Elm Street, Commerce, Georgia 30529. 

Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jefferson, Georgia.  706-367-5467       

Online condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com