After high school he joined the United States Army where he served for twenty years and was part of the 509th Paratrooper Infantry Air Assault and 502nd Infantry Air Assault divisions. He finished his time in service as a noncommissioned officer instructor. He was awarded the Army Service Ribbon / National Defense Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Accomodation Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, the British Parachutist Badge, and Army Good Conduct Medal. Following his retirement from military service, he settled in Jacksonville, FL and worked at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for 25 years as a Corrections Officer. Andy was an active member of the Shriners International for thirty eight years, participating in a variety of parade motor units and clubs. Most notably, he served 5 years as Membership Chairman for Morocco Shrine Center in Jacksonville, FL and was the President of Clay County Shrine Club in 2007. Andy took pride in serving with his brothers within the Shrine Community to champion and raise funding for the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
Andy was a devoted family man. He was a husband, dad / daddy, G-daddy, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Gisella (Tizian), whom he met in Italy while stationed there with the U.S. Army in 1972, son Michael Mathews (Carly), daughter Sabrina Henderson (Troy), grandchildren Kyleigh, Chase, Emma, Rylen, Brody, Luke, one great-grandchild Kinleigh, two brothers Charles Mathews and Warren Mathews, three sisters Kathy Everetts, Martha Mathews and Peggy Driggers, and many, many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers Mack Mathews, James Mathews, Ronnie Mathews and Tommy Mathews, and one sister Diane Walker.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Andy’s honor to:
Shriner’s Hospitals for Children
Morocco Shrine Center
560 Wells Rd
Orange Park, FL 32073
A visitation for Cecil will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at West Jacksonville Advent Christian Church, 8376 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32221. A funeral service will occur Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM, 8376 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32221. A graveside service will occur Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32205.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Mathews family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.3