Rev. Matthew D. Williams

Reverend Matthew D. Williams, 55, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Memorial Hospital in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Matt was born on September  3, 1970 in Milledgeville, Georgia to the late, Sidney  and Melinda Harden Williams.  He spent his early years in Dublin, Georgia before relocating with his family to Callahan, Florida where he attended West Nassau High, the place where he met his lifelong sweetheart and the love of his life, graduating in the class of 1988.  After graduation, Matt worked several different jobs before taking a position with Trans American Trucking Service as a trailer mechanic.  His entrepreneurial spirit began to grow as Matt opened his own trailer repair business, Cornerstone Trailer Services, in Jacksonville, Florida which he operated for many years.  His strong work ethic and love of business management led him into several other business ventures throughout his life, some more successful than others.  Matt loved the Lord and began to feel the call to ministry as he volunteered in the youth group at his local church in the mid 1990’s.   He attended seminary at the Jacksonville Theological Seminary where he was recipient of a Master’s Degree in Theology.  After his ordination, Matt founded Sunrise Baptist Church in Jacksonville where he served the Lord faithfully and has continued in this service since that time.  His love of business continued as he  opened the Florida- Georgia Auction in Jacksonville, Florida nearly fifteen years ago, later moving his business and family to Jesup, Georgia where he has resided for the past ten years.  In his spare time, Matt loved the outdoors, fishing, boating and especially hunting.  He also loved to travel and had taken over fifty cruises with Alaska being his favorite destination.  He was frugal, honest and loyal.  Always quick with a joke but equally as loving and supportive to those he loved the most, his family.  In addition to his parents, his two infant sons, Jonathan Matthew and Michael Wade Williams and his aunt, Shelly Williams, all preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of thirty-four years, Regina Williams of Jesup; three daughters, Kelsey Arnett and husband, Joseph of Sterling, Georgia, Hannah-Marie Wiggins and husband, Conner of Cedar Crossing, Georgia and Savannah Williams of Jesup and uncle, Charles Williams of Dublin. 

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with Rev. Steven Toole officiating. 

Interment will follow in Pineview Cemetery in Folkston, Georgia.

Active pallbearers will be Conner Wiggins, Joseph Arnett, Connor Babcock, Joel Barber, Ronald Mercer, Daniel McGinley and Terry McGinley.

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