Garrett A Mathis

Tony was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 1, 1949. His legal name is Garry Anthony Mathis. He was born to the union of Lillie Mae Cook and Willis Edison Mathis. Tony was 1 of 6 children, Gwendolyn Speight, Ronald Mathis, Brenda Cobb, Betsy Merritt and Tara Copeland HandBerry. At the age of 2 years his mother moved back to Columbus with him and his 2 siblings, Gwen and Ronnie. There was a time where a lot of things were prohibited from Black people. He grew up in an era where you were not allowed to eat, drink, or sit with white folks. Black people were taught that they were inferior to the white man in those days. He was also born in an era where Christianity was the common religion for the white’s and black’s given to them by their oppressor. My father often said as a young boy that Christ was heavy in their household and they went to church often. He spoke really high throughout his life of the good old morals his mother Lilly (who he referred to as Sista) instilled in him as well as his Aunt Mary (Mary C), Uncles Jonny, Lawrence, Jack, Kelvin (lil buddy) & Robert Jane. My father spoke even highly of his Grandparents, Beatrice Cook and Jackson Cook who he referred to as momma and daddy. My father contributed the man he became to the structure his grandparents instilled in him. My Father said as a child he was very rebellious and curious.

Tony always wanted to know. Whenever he would ask questions about the injustice in the south, his mother, grandparents or uncles would brush him off saying “boy don’t worry about that or hush up asking about that before you get yourself in trouble”. They always worried about my father growing up because of his rebellious nature. He said they would often say “yall betta watch that boy”. It was those good ole southern morals and values that instilled in him and his own natural inclination to rebel that gave birth to a GOD, and because no one in the south had any answers to the injustice he witnessed, he said he knew he had to leave one day.

Tony attended Carver High School where he graduated and joined the military shortly after. He told me he always wanted to go to Hollywood and become an actor but Uncle Sam called his career in the military short due to Juvenile Diabetes. At the age of 19 my father returned to where he was born, Chicago, to regain a relationship with his father who he called Spike. Tony loved his father but he didn’t like his absence in his life. There in Chicago at the age of 19 my father said he went to the park and set on a bench, a man came and sat next to him and they talked for hours and hours. That night he taught my father the distance from the earth to the sun, he taught him how fast the earth rotates on its axial, and the time it takes for the light to strike the earth causing it to spin. He told my father that the same time it takes for the light to strike the earth causing it to spin is the same it takes for the blood to leave your heart and go to the top of your feet to the highest peak of your mind causing light and making a complete thought. He told him that the Black man was a direct descendant of Allah. At that moment he knew why he had been rebellious against the powers that be. A brother from the fruit of Islam had broken down to him in several hours what nobody back at home could tell him in a lifetime. The black man and woman was a direct descendant of Allah himself and is in fact the original man and the father of all civilization.

His stay in Chicago was short and he eventually returned home. My father said when he became a man, it didn’t sit well with him to sit at home with Sista who adored and deemed her to be the strongest black woman he has ever seen. He hopped on a train and as my grandmother Lilly Cook says, “He hoboed his way back to Detroit.” At some point trying to make it in the fast city seemed a little tough and he wanted to return home. My grandmother Lilly stated “You hoboed your way up there you better hoboe your way back.” Shortly after then he landed a position at one of the biggest auto industries across the world, Diamond Chrysler. Where he worked for over 30 years and retired making a family at the plant with friends like Bo Jack, Tod Pin, Moss, Paige, 32 and 42, light foot and a host of others. Everywhere he went, he created strong brother hoods and bonds. Like that night on the bench where he was taught the black man’s true identity. He made sure he shared that knowledge and wisdom with every brother at Chrysler. So much so that he was looked upon at the plant as the judge where he solved a many of disputed and situations. A lot of his friends that grew up back home with him, migrated to Detroit as well. They all moved to the east side of Detroit at 3592 East Palmer St. Their, Tony, Rock, Randy, William Green, Leo Harrison, William Bell. They partied from sun up to sun down at this house. Throughout all the partying he still never forgot what that man taught him. He began studying and studying. There at the palmer house is where he met momma (Linda White). She was all of their sister and had a special bond with each one. A lot of women came through the palmer house and he said sometimes they all had a different woman every night, but he said Linda was different. Something was very special about her, so much that he went on to bare 6 children with her, Leonard, Carlo White, William Anthony White, Omar Sherriff White, Malika Rochelle White, Baby Tony Omar White, and Karon Rashard White. In July of 1976 he married Linda and they raised their family at 8900 Sorrento. He not only raised his children but the neighborhood as well. Teaching them everything he was becoming under the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and Minister Louis Farrakhan. He had a special friend, Holmer that he will truly miss.

He had 3 brother in laws and 3 sister in laws. Deborah Booker, Carolyn Alexander, Michael White, Wesley White, Shimel Prince, and Terrance Prince. Tony had a host of nieces and nephews and grandchildren that he adored. Kennetha Speight, Jamal Speight, Megan, Taylor HandBerry, Chandler HandBerry, Taylor HandBerry, Benita, Berrell, Bobby, Brandon. But he had a special relationship with his nieces and nephews that he got the opportunity to raise from birth and have a direct impact on their life. Lil Arthur, Antonio, Liol Baby, Andre, Dee, Lil Michael, Wannie, Tevin, Terrance, Labaron, Antwan, Lil Wes, Tasha, Felicia, Tono, Iantha, Spoonie, Renika, Linda, Shakira, and Deborah, Trisha, Bonk. He had his own relationship with each and every one of them. He treated them as if they was all his extended children. Tony made sure that each one of them knew who they were as black kings and queens. He also made sure they knew who they were as individuals as well. He spent countless hours teaching joy rd and every young soul that touch our porch, but he spent the bulk of his time teaching Tate, Poochie, Moody, Malika, and Karon preparing them for this life. He often spoke to every young soul about their direct connection to Allah. He would often say that they didn’t know “the youth was teaching me at the same time I was teaching them.” My father was full of the south values and structure, but he was also well balanced and rounded because he was full of the north strength, courage, wisdom, and dare to be different, Bold and unapologetic for his inclination for the truth. Between both worlds, before he reached mid 30 Tony had become a GOD. Created and fashion by the most high creatr Allah himself. So like his father everything and everyone Tony encountered, he touched and brought out the God in them. Tony also had four extended children through marriage. Arpine White (Tate), Mary White (Poochie), Kori White (Moody), Tyrone Hall (Snap). He had a great bond with each and every one of them. As well as a personal relationship with his son in law Snap. He ended his journey in this realm in the most quiet and peaceful way on October 6, 2024. Allah called him home leaving a trail of tears. Starting with grandkids, CJ, Acari, Anaria, Alijah, Fatman, Dontae, Asianna, Nabi, Mary, Eric, Imani, Mikayla, Mikaiya, Shayla, Omaria, Daniel, Aaliah, Kadijah, Malik, Mychal, Mychai. He has a host of loved ones who have ended their life in this realm before him. Where he would dance at the gates of eternal life with them. His mother Lilly, father Spike, grandparents Beatirce and Jackson Cook, sister, Gwendolyn Speight. His three sons, Lenoard, Karon, Baby Tony, and a bonus Son Anthony Wiley, his granddaughter Anaria White, his auntie and uncles but his favorite uncle Robert James Cook, and his brother in laws Wesley and Terrance. Tony left a trail of Gods from every corner of this earth. My father’s impact on his family was very strong. The love he had for his family inspirted the love that runs very deep through his children and grandchildren. So much so that it inspired his special twin granddaughter Aaliah at only the age of 19 to give him a kidney. That gave him the opportunity to enjoy life more freely and be able to move back to Detroit for a while and create more memories with his family up North. Tony’s life was filled with exactly what he was LOVED. He was and is one of the highest expressions of Allah. The Tiger Man Tiger Tough Tony.