Frankie Mathews, 75, Lancaster, SC

LANCASTER, SC – Franklin Myers “Frankie” ~ “TAZ” Mathews died at his home on September 3, 2026. He was born on December 5, 1950, in Newton, North Carolina. He was the youngest of three children of William Andy “Bill” & Frances Lettie Jane Mitchell Mathews. There were 14 years between Frankie & the eldest, Daniel Berry Mathews and 7 years between Frankie and his sister, Eunice Ann Mathews Scavio. His mom always said there were 7 years between all her children.

Frankie grew up in Great Falls, SC. He was a Boy Scout and member of the 4H club. He loved fishing, building model cars, and watching Gunsmoke with his daddy. He always said his daddy was the only man to shoot Matt Dillon.

In high school, he drove a school bus. After graduating from Great Falls High School in 1969, he worked at JP Stevens in Great Falls.

He joined the Great Falls Rescue Squad. He was bitten by the rescue bug. A large part of it was due to a TV show, “Emergency”. He could quote Johnny Gauge. In 1980, he passed his first EMT class. The next year, he went to Paramedic School in Columbia. He was hired at Chester County EMS. In 1988, he was lured to crossing Nitrolee bridge & joining Lancaster County EMS. Over the years, he held different titles. He participated in many paramedic competitions.

He enjoyed being a paramedic and helping others in their most difficult and scary times. He worked for Lancaster & Chester EMS.

Frankie had the clearest blue eyes. He had mastered the art of the eye roll. The most used word in his vocabulary was “Huh”. He had selective hearing by turning his good ear away from the person talking or turning his hearing aids up and down.

He enjoyed the pond, the river, & deep-sea fishing. Later in life, some of his hobbies changed or expanded, He enjoyed RV camping, jet skiing & boat riding, riding his wife’s Clemson golf cart, motorcycling, traveling, and snacking on Lance’s cheese & peanut butter crackers. He was Dukes Mayonnaise’s biggest fan.

He enjoyed drag racing – from being the driver to being a fan. Shuffle Town & Darlington were his favorite drag tracks. He never missed a big race at either strip until they were closed or removed from the IHRA line up.

He was involved in many organizations. He was a Master Mason at Jackson Lodge 53 AFM and a member of York Rites. He was a proud Shriner. He was on the Board of Jackson Shrine Club, Shrine Race Committee, and Fish Fry Crew. “There’s no Jaz like Hejaz.”

He was a long-standing member of Trinity Motorcycle Club – Kershaw & Lancaster Chapters. He held many positions over the years. FTTF!!! He loved riding his Harley Davidson. He really loved their annual July Jam.

For many years, he and his EMS pals would make an annual trip to tame the Tail of the Dragon. Some of The Ride Crew included: Sonny Plyler, David Camp, Ken Vick, John Loftin, Tim Clemmer, and Dick Mann. They enjoyed taking the long, long, long way from South Carolina to the NC & Tennessee Mountains and back always avoiding I-40. The crash truck always beat them to their destination by six plus hours.

He married his second wife, Cassie Weathersbee Mathews in 1992. They enjoyed traveling. Their favorite locations were Sturgis, South Dakotah; Memphis, Tennessee; Maggie Valley, North Carolina; Washington, DC; and Omaha, Nebraska. They traveled to many biker rallies over the years. He always got a kick out of people telling him that he earned sainthood for putting up with Cassie. He would tell them that if she starts rattling on, he just turned his hearing aids down. They had many fur babies over the years. Their current fur babies are Brinkley Franklin Hiram Valentine Mathews, David Coleman Fitzgerald Mathews, and Alda Tilitha Ida Jane Mathews.

He had been a notary for a few decades and married many couples.

He had a horseshoe shaped kidney and long history of kidney stones. In 2023, he had kidney cancer & staghorn kidney stones removed. He had been in remission until July of 2026. His kidney cancer traveled to his lungs. He started immunotherapy in August of 2026 to fight the cancer.

Frankie is survived by his wife, his daughter: Wendy Gail Mathews Barrs, son-in-law: Tracey Edward Barrs, and a son: Scotty Wayne Mathews.

He leaves behind 3 grandchildren, Amanda Michelle Barrs, Joshua “Josh” Edward Barrs, & Miranda Barrs; and his granddaughter-in-law, Lacy Riggins Barrs.

Along with his great grandchildren, Nicholas “Nick” Barrs, Caidence Barrs, and Ethan Barrs.

The only survivor of his immediate family is his brother, Daniel Mathews, of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

And lastly, his nieces & nephews, Danny Lee Mathews, Sr., Donnie Mathews, Jeff Scavio, Tammy Scavio, Debbie Scavio, Brian Scavio, David Scavio, and Tony Scavio.

Preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Eunice “Sis” Mathews Scavio; a brother-in-law, Walt Scavio; a sister-in-law, Gretchen Palmer Mathews; a great-grandson, Joshua Edward Barrs, Jr.; his maternal grandparents, Solomon Berry Mitchell & Lula Sanford Mitchell Crawford; and paternal grandparents, Daniel Benjamin & Mabel Idell Baker Matthews; his father-in-law, Gary Weathersbee; his mother-in-law, Ann Pardue Dagenhart; his brother-in-law, David “DAG” Dagenhart; his ex-wife, Sandra “Pnut” Blair Blanks; and his ex-daughter-in-law, Becky Adams Mathews.

He will be crossing Nitrolee Bridge one last time. Frankie will be buried with his parents at Greenlawn Cemetery in Great Falls, SC.

A service in honor of Frankie will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 2:00 pm in The Chapel of Burgess Funeral Home. Burial will follow.

The family will receive friends the night prior, on Friday, September 11, 2026, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Burgess Funeral Home.

The family will meet other times at 2029 Hough Road, Lancaster, SC 29720.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Burgess Funeral Home, C/O Frankie Mathews, P.O. Box 1743, Lancaster, SC 29721.