LANCASTER, SC – Frankie “ TAZ” Mathews

Franklin Myers “Frankie” 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 13 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 of her children.

Frankie grew up at 25 Center Street in Great Falls, SC. He loved fishing, building model cars, and Watching Andy Grifftin show, & 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 1979, he passed his first EMT class. The year later, he went to Paramedic School in Columbia.

He was hired at Chester County EMS. In 1988, he was lured to cross the Nitrolee bridge & join Lancaster County EMS. He has had too many EMS partners to list everyone. Some of his first partners in Chester was James Knox, Kenneth Craig, Jack Simpson, Jr, David Camp, and Chuck Payne. Over the years, he held different titles. He favorite class was Swift Water Rescue taken with Sonny Plyler. He was in many paramedic competitions.

He enjoyed being a paramedic and helping others in their most difficult and Scarey times. He worked Lancaster & Chester EMS. He officially retired from EMS in 2021, but he returned to part time status. He was a paramedic for 46 years.

He was a kind and thoughtful man. He would help anyone in need without asking, “What’s in it for him.” He was a quiet man in general until the conversation went to a topic he enjoyed.

Frankie had the clearest blue eyes. Those eyes could see into your soul. He had mastered the art of the “Eye Roll.” The most used word in his vocabulary was “Huh”. It was the #1 answer to any question. He had selective hearing by turning his good ear away from the person talking or turning his hearing aids up or down.

He enjoyed pond, river, & deep sea fishing. Later in life, some of his hobbies changed or expanded, He enjoyed RV camping, jet ski & boat riding, riding his wife’s Clemson golf cart, motorcycling, traveling, and eating Lance’s cheese with peanut butter crackers. He was a closet Clemson Football fan. 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. Never missed a big race at either strip until they were closed or removed from IHRA line up. His favorites classes were Pro-Stock & Pro-Mod. Ricky Smith, Warren Johnson, & Scotty Cannon were his favorite Pro-Mod & Pro-Stock S.C. drivers. His All Time favorite drivers were Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, Connie Kaliyah, Richard Tharp, Shirley Muldowney, John Force, & Don Prudhomme.

He married his second wife, Cassie Weathersbee Mathews in 1992. They enjoyed traveling. Favorite locations were Sturgis,SD, Memphis, Tennessee, Maggie Valley, North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Omaha, Nebraska. They loved Dollywood and held season passes for many, many years. They traveled to many Biker Rallies & Swap Meets over the years across the country. Over the last 15 years, they regularly could be seen camping at Lake Wateree State Park. He started jet skiing at 70 and loved every second. He loved anything on the water.

He always got a kick out of people telling him, he earned sainthood for putting up with Cassie. He would tell them, if she starts rattling on, he just turned his hearing aids down. They had many furbabies over the years. They fostered furbabies and was involved in doggie transports.

He was involved in many organizations. He was a 33 degree 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 involved in many motorcycle related groups & clubs: ABATE of Lancaster, ABATE of South Carolina, ABATE of Chester, ABATE of York County, SC Coalition of Motorcycle Clubs, Trinity M/C, and NCOM.

He loved riding his Harley Davidson. He owned 3 Harleys over the years. He planned to get a Harley Trike after he was finished with his current treatment plan. After treatment, he was going to donate his current Harley to Shriner’s Children Hospital in Greenville for a fundraiser raffle. His wife & daughter will work to grant his final wish.

Frankie collected Harley Davidson tshirts. He had at least one Harley Davidson t-shirt from Dealerships in the US & overseas.

For many years, his EMS buddies and he would make an annual trip to Tame the Tail of the Dragon. The Ride Crew: Sonny Plyler, David Camp, Ken Vick, John Loftin, Mike Vick, Tim Clemmer, Phil Polston, Dick Mann, & Wayne Willis to name a few. 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 the destination by six plus hours.

Frankie enjoyed being outdoors and even yard work. Coleman(13 yr old rescue Chiweenie) was his yard work side kick and landscaping supervisor.

Frankie loved food. He thought he wasn’t getting his money worth unless it was a buffet & he was hungry. He loved the Shrimp & Grits at the Blue Marlin in Columbia, SC. He had his All Star favorite restaurants over the years: Lizard’s Thicket, Shoney’s, Wade’s, Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse, Duff’s, K & W cafeteria, Quincy’s, Wagon Wheel, Blue Marlin, Brenda Kay’s, Leigh Anne’s, Lancaster Steakhouse, Piccadilly Cafeteria, the Country Daughter’s Buffet, Ranch Steakhouse, & Mary’s Cafe. His favorite meal was always breakfast, he could eat it any time of day. He loved grits. He never met a boiled peanut he didn’t like.

He loved Ida Pardue’s coconut cake, fried apple pies, & chicken-n-dumplings and Alda Richardson’s sticky buns. After Ida’s passing, he met Terry Starnes Robinson’s coconut cake. He requested homemade coconut cake for almost all of his birthdays. He only loved his Mama’s Potato Salad. There wasn’t a McCoy, Pardue, Epworth Children’s Home, or Starnes family reunion potluck he didn’t enjoy. He was a big fan of anything Annette Snipes cooked. He was a master chef for oyster stew, salmon stew, and catfish stew. He could fry an egg & make hamburger helper.

He enjoyed going to comedy shows & country music concerts. Favorite comedians: Ron White, Jeff Dunham & Peanut, Jay Hickman, Jerry Crowder, Larry the Cable Guy, The 3 Stooges, Jerry Lewis, and his great grandson, Nick Barrs. He went to many country music concerts at biker Rallies, State fairs, and local venues.

He had been a notary for a three decades and married many couples. He would tell the couple, he could help them get married but they were on their own if they wanted out of it.

He was an ardent 2nd amendment supporter. He was a long time member of the NRA. He had his concealed weapon permit for many years until the law changed to open carry.

He had a horseshoe shaped kidney and long history of kidney stones. On February 14,

2023, he had kidney cancer & staghorn kidney stones removed. It took 2 surgeons over 9 hours to remove. He had been in remission until July 1, 2026. His kidney cancer traveled to his lungs, Stage 4 Kidney Cancer. He started Immunotherapy August 5, 2026 to fight the cancer. His fight was lost on September 3, 2026.

Survivors:

Wife, Cassie Mathews

Children:

Wendy Gail Mathews Barrs

Scotty Wayne Mathews

Son-n-law: Tracy Edward Barrs

Furbabies:

Brinkley Franklin Hiram Valentine Mathews

David Coleman Fitzgerald Mathews

Alda Tilitha Ida Jane Mathews

Grandchildren:

Amanda Michelle Barrs

Joshua Edward “Josh” Barrs

Miranda Barrs

Granddaughter -n-law, Lacy Riggins Barrs

Great Grandchildren:

Nicholas “Nick” Edward Barrs

Caidence Diane Barrs

Ethan Edward Barrs

Only survivor of his immediate birth family is his brother, Daniel “Dan” Mathews, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

~Extended Family~

Nieces & Nephews:

Danny Lee Mathews, Sr

Donnie Mathews

Jeff Scavio

Tammy Scavio

Debbie Scavio

Brian Scavio

David Scavio

Tony Scavio

Great Nieces & Great Nephews:

Collin Hentgess

Mandy Scavio

Matthew Scavio

Kayla Vocelka

Ambur Scavio

Nick Scavio

Maria Scavio

Anthony Scavio

Aiden Scavio

Warren Spears II

Erica Butler

Kim Miller

April Spears

Joshua Spears

Douglas Spears

Preceded in death By his parents; sister, Eunice “Sis” Mathews Scavio; Great grandson, Joshua Edward Barrs, Jr.; Niece, Virginia Gail Mathews Spears; brother-n-law, Walt Scavio; sister-n-law, Gretchen Palmer Mathews; Maternal Grandparents, Solomon Berry Mitchell & Lula Sanford Mitchell Crawford; Paternal Grandparents, Daniel Benjamin & Mabel Idell Baker Matthews; Father-n-Law, “Big Gary” Weathersbee; Mother-n-law, Ann Pardue Dagenhart; Brother-n-Law, David “DAG” Dagenhart; Ex-Wife, Sandra “Pnut” Blair Blanks; Ex Daughter-n-Law, Becky Adams Mathews

Preceded Furbabies:

Harley Bleu Pardue

Alexander the Blind “ALEX”

Junebug Cornelius Ezzell

TAZ

Conley Richardson Starnes Calhoun

Ida Becca Mae

Bruce “Shadow” McClintock

Ruby Frances Bobbie Lee

Skinner Douglas Lee

Addie Jane

Morris Anne

Service Speakers:

Music: Troubdour

Father Justin “Iceman” Daviault, Polish Priest

Lanny Bernard, retired EMS director

EMS honor guard

EMS Honor guard gave American Flags to his wife, Cassie, and daughter, Wendy.

Music:

I’m gonna miss her

After the funeral service, Frankie received the Last Call for Medic 205. A heartfelt Thank You from Lancaster County Citizens. Frankie’s urn, wife, & daughter were escorted to the gravesite by Ambulance.

He crossed Nitrolee Bridge for the last time with Chuck Payne leading the convoy. Frankie was buried with his parents at Greenlawn Cemetary.

Gravesite Service:

Music: Go Rest High on the Mountain

Father Iceman gave prayers & last rites.

Masonic Rights was led by Master Mason Gary Sowell.

Friends: Donald Hyatt and Sonny Plyler spoke about Frankie.

Music:

Spirit in the Sky

You never Call me by my real name

Party Time

Friends in Low Places