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CD > CD O 05 Co GO o co ?5ids K o CL 00 Sneak preview of Cathedral Restoration —see pages 6-7 $.50 PER ISSUE Deacon Frank Mathis dies; was director of African American Ministry Deacon Frank Mathis smiles in a 1993 file photo by Jonas N. Jordan. Savannah D eacon Frank Mathis, 63, director of the Office of African American Ministry for the Diocese of Savannah, died of lung cancer September 21 at home in Savannah. “He was the essence of a gentleman,” said Bishop J. Kevin Boland. “He was a person of kindness and gentility. He lived his life in an era of great racial tensions but was a man who was blessed with a special charism of not acknowl edging the divide but rather he used his gra ciousness to draw people together.” The bishop added, “As a permanent deacon, he provided outstanding service, showing the face of Christ to others whether they were black or white. I am confident that our saving Lord will give him a big hug and embrace as he enters into the new life promised by our risen Savior.” To his sister, the Rev. Nettie Miller, who was at his side when he died, Deacon Mathis “was an angel. He was always reaching out to help people and he never turned anyone down.” A native of Fort Valley, Deacon Mathis was the son of the late Otis Mathis Sr. and Mrs. Laura B. Mathis Gibson, who lives in Fontana, California. He was a former member of Central Union Baptist Church in Fort Valley and attended H.A. Hunt High School. He was a graduate of Fort Valley State College. He served as a basketball, football, track and softball coach with various schools and organizations in Savannah and Fort Valley. He served as District Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America from 1959 to 1972, as Executive Director of the Coastal Area Minority Business Development Association from 1972- 1988, and as president of Mathis and Associates Business Consultants, beginning in 1975. He joined the Catholic Church in Savannah, where he was a communicant of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, now merged into Resur rection of Our Lord Parish. He was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Raymond W. Lessard in 1985. Since 1986 he served as director of the Office of African American Ministry of the Catholic Diocese. Through his work with the diocese and with his parish, Deacon Mathis served as a role model to many youth in the area. Several years ago he formed the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. (Blacks Reaching Out To Help Each Reach Success), a program to mentor African-American young males. He was a member of the board of the Citizens Crime Commission and of the advisory board of the Regional Youth Detention Center. In 1995 Mayor Susan Weiner declared August 12 Frank Mathis Day in Savannah. Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish held an appreciation din ner for him at the Pirates House. Surviving besides his mother are two sisters, Mrs. Mary B. Buckley of Fontana, California, and the Reverend Nettie Miller of Monrovia, California; his sister-in-law, Mrs. Sadie Mathis of Fort Valley; three nephews, Archie Miller of San Dimas, California; Charles Miller of Pomona, California and Donald Miller of Duarte, California; six nieces, Annie L. Sanders (Continued on page 4) Vol. 80, No. 33 Thursday, September 28, 2000 F ather James B. Walker, former pastor of Saint Peter Claver Parish, Macon, died in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 23. Father Walker was undergoing reha bilitation therapy because of difficul ty with walking, brought on by dia betes, at the time of his death. He died of prostate cancer, which he had been battling the last few years. James Walker was bom in Macon and attended Virgil Powers School. He graduated from Lanier High for Boys in June, 1946 and entered the U. S. Navy. He was selected to attend the U. S. Naval Academy Prepara tory School in Bainbridge, Maryland. He entered the Naval Academy in July, 1949 and graduated in June, 1953. He married Virginia Daly of Father James B. Walker dies New Haven, Connecticut, a Navy nurse, and they both left the Navy in the late 50s. A career in marketing followed. His wife died in 1979. He entered the Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1986 and graduated with a Masters Degree in Divinity in 1990. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Savannah by Bishop Raymond W. Lessard in May, 1990. Father Walker served as parochial vicar at Saint James, Savannah, Saint Mary’s on the Hill, Augusta, and as pastor of Our Divine Saviour in Tifton and its mission, Saint Ann’s, in Alapaha, before becoming pastor of Saint Peter Claver in 1995. He resigned as pastor in May 1999 and his priestly faculties were with drawn a few months later. In Novem ber 1999, he was sentenced to proba tion for misappropriation of funds from Saint Peter Claver Parish. “The final year of Father Walker’s life was saddened by the fact that he was dealing with declining health but more significantly by his probated sentence for misuse of funds,’’said Bishop J. Kevin Boland. He added, “In the final analysis, the purpose of the Church to which we belong is to seek reconciliation and extend forgiveness because God’s grace and love remain uncon ditional. This unconditional love is given in a unique and special way to his ministers from whom so much is expected. We’re all deeply conscious (Continued on page 4) Father James B. Walker n The Sou Diocese of Savannah hern (toss