Laster "L.B." Billy Mathis

HOMELAND – Laster Billy “L.B.” Mathis, 89, passed away on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Fla. Born Jan. 22, 1929, in Nashville, Ga., L.B. was the son of the late Reuben and Polly Ann Taylor Mathis. A resident of Homeland since 1970, he was a heavy equipment operator for C. Wilson Construction and longtime member of Main Street Baptist Church in Bartow. L.B. was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons for more than 55 years, and was the past master of the Bowling Green, Fla. Lodge. L.B. also served as a deacon in his church and enjoyed gardening, watching “wrastlin’,” collecting and trading knives, and spending time with his family and friends. L.B. was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Doris Mathis, and their daughter, Brenda Morton, of Winter Haven, Fla. He also was preceded in death by four sisters: Louise Ray Rawson of Bowling Green, Fla., Louelle Roland of Homeland, Fla., Norma Hall, of Reynolds, Ga., and Ethel Lee Root, of Wadsworth, Ohio. He was preceded in death by six brothers: J.R. Mathis of Winter Park, Fla., Talmadge Mathis, of Winter Springs, Fla., Wendell Mathis, of Rome, Ga., Virgil Mathis, of Nashville, Ga., Lankford Mathis, of Nashville, Ga., and Aubrey Mathis. He is survived by his son in law, Richard Morton, of Winter Haven, Fla. He also is survived by his brother, Onest Mathis, of Stockbridge, Ga. and sister, Vivian Merchant, of Marietta, Ga. Other survivors include his granddaughter, Meredith Jean Morris and her husband, Matt, of Orlando, Fla., and grandson, Jonathan Richard Morton and his wife, Ashlyn, of Eagle Lake, Fla. He had one great granddaughter, Bethany Joy Morton, and one great grandson, Benjamin Rhett Morris.The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, at Main Street Baptist Church, 1140 E. Main St., Bartow, Fla., with services to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens in Auburndale, Fla. Condolences to the family at www.WhiddenMcLeanfuneralhome.com