This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RonCollins10 Surnames: Mathis, Evens, Hemric, Myers, Murray, Walker, Blackwelder Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.northcarolina.counties.yadkin/3625/mb.ashx Message Board Post: JONESVILLE - James Bradley "J.B." Mathis, 89, passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center. He was born March 29, 1918, in Yadkin County to the late Everette and Fay Evans Mathis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Hemric Myers Mathis; a brother, Raymer Mathis; and a sister, Susie M. Murray. He was a charter member of Arlington First Baptist Church in Jonesville. On April 18, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, Battery D, 432nd AAA-AW Battalion. He patriotically served two years and ten months of Foreign Service during World War II. That time included 16 months and two winters in the mountains of Italy. Honors for this service included the EAMET (Europe-Africa-Middle-East) medal with five stars, representing five major battles of the Italian campaign. He was wounded twice and was awarded the Purple Heart. While working in a civilian conservation corps camp, he learned masonry and developed a skill that led him! to be known as a master brick mason. He had great pride in his trade and enjoyed riding through the community admiring houses and churches he helped to build. Family and friends enjoyed his sense of humor, quick wit and talent of story-telling. He loved nature and enjoyed walking horses, gamecocks and especially training and hunting with his bird dogs as long as his health permitted. Surviving are his son, Danny Mathis of Hamptonville; a daughter, Saborah Robinson and husband Hal of Elkin; a sister, Faye Marie Mathis of Jonesville; three grandchildren, Danielle Walker and husband Dustin of Union Grove, Davis Mathis and wife Amy of Hamptonville and Abbye Blackwelder and husband Aaron of State Road; and three great-grandchildren, Holden and Hadley Walker and Addison Bradley Blackwelder. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Arlington First Baptist Church in Jonesville, with the Rev. Jerry Fugate officiating. The family will receive friends af! ter the memorial service. Memorials may be made to Arlington F! irst Bap tist Church, 345 South Main St., Jonesville, NC 28642. The family would like to thank the staff and friends of Parkwood Place in Elkin for four wonderful years in a caring and friendly atmosphere of companionship. Appreciation is also extended to Dr. Tamas Soos and the staff of Hugh Chatham Nursing Center. The honor for which he was most proud was that he, his family and friends knew he had honorably, courageously and faithfully served his country when called to do so. Hodges Funeral Home is serving the Mathis family. Online condolences may be made at www.hodgesfuneralhomeinc.com. Published in the Winston-Salem Journal on 12/10/2007. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.