He received BA and PhD degrees from UNC Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree from UNC Greensboro. He taught public school in Stokes, Forsyth and Guilford counties and served as a principal in Rose Hill and Southern Pines, NC. He was an adjunct professor at Campbell University for many years.
In 1987, he joined the NC Department of Public Instruction as Assistant Director for Student Information Management. During his career in the department, he served as Director of the Central Regional Education Center, Director of Safe Healthy Schools, Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Operations and retired as Chief School Operations Officer. He served on the Governor’s Task Forces for Safer Schools; Food Safety and Defense; Mental Health and Substance Use; H1N1 Virus Response, and Underage Drinking. He represented the department on the Capital Planning; Domestic Violence, and Crime Commissions as well as the Child Fatality Task Force in the NC General Assembly. He received the Friend of School Nutrition Award, in 2013, for his leadership of school nutrition in NC. At retirement in 2019, he was recognized for his leadership and service by a special resolution from the NC State Board of Education. He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor.
For over 30 years he was active in the UNC School of Education Alumni Association serving as Board Member, Treasurer and President. He represented the school on the UNC General Alumni Association and was a Life Member of the General Alumni Association. In 2013 the School of Education Alumni Association gave Ben the Alumni Achievement Award for Outstanding Service and Contribution to Education in NC.
Following retirement from state service he served as consultant to the Leadership Group of the Carolinas, WestEd Corporation, Department of Public Instruction, PropelGPS Corporation and the North Carolina ABC Commission.
Ben loved both his Corgis - Razz and Duke. They were a big part of his life. He enjoyed traveling to the NC mountains - especially to his mountain home in Echota. Blowing Rock and the trail around Bass Lake were favorite pastimes when there. The view from the pool at the Ridge was a peaceful enjoyment. He loved walking the Loop at Wrightsville Beach and great seafood restaurants - especially shrimp at Dockside. He enjoyed pistol shooting with friends at various ranges across NC. He collected knives and had 4 motorcycles during his lifetime - and had the full set of leathers to go with them! He collected and enjoyed throwing boomerangs and carried one in his car to throw as he drove around the state visiting schools - probably a surprise to some reading this!
Ben was predeceased by his father James, mother, Doris, and stepfather, David Stewart McClanahan, III, all of King, NC; parents-in-law, Janice Herring Jordan, Fenner Graham Jordan, Jr. of Plymouth, NC; and sister-in-law, Ann Gilliam Jordan of Lake Mary, FL.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Deborah Jordan Matthews of Cary; son, Jordan (Andrea) of Richmond, VA; brother, Neil McClanahan (Geni ); niece, Kathleen (Michael) and her son, Jackson all of Winston-Salem; brother-in-laws, Graham (Lynn) and John Jordan, all of Raleigh; niece, Sarah (Michael) and their daughters, Emma Gray and Anna Elizabeth Lecourt, and nephew, Charles Jordan all of Raleigh; many cousins and great friends.
He will be forever remembered for his servant leadership and true caring of others.
Ben was a long time member of Christ Episcopal Church of Raleigh and served as an usher for many years. A service in his memory will be held at Christ Episcopal Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 31st.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church, Transitions LifeCare and the Benjamin James Matthews Legacy Fund in support of ALS research at Duke University. Checks may be made payable to Duke University with the Matthews Legacy Fund name in the memo section
Duke Health Development, Attn. Whitney Martin, 300 West Morgan Street, Suite 1200 Durham, NC 27701. Online donations may be made via, https://www.gifts.duke.edu/mem/Matthews
Services provided by Brown-Wynne, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh.
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