MATHIAS, Charles Erwin "Chuck," of Fayetteville, Ga., formerly of Plant City, Fla., died
March 1, 2010. Mr. Mathias was an IT consultant in Atlanta, Ga. He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Mathias. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Mathias; sons, Clayton Ross Mathias. Casey Maxwell Mathias and Cory James Mathias, all of Fayetteville, Ga.; mother, Lorene Mathias; brother, Glenn Mathias, both of Plant City, Fla. Mr. Mathias was cremated. His remains will be brought back to Plant City for a memorial service at a later date.
Published in TBO.com from Mar. 21 to Mar. 24, 2010
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tbo/obituary.aspx?n=charles-erwin-mathias-chuck&pid=140926269#sthash.LhCleREM.dpuf
On the day of Chuck’s passing, my phone began to ring, and my email pinged non-stop with words of condolences, and questions
Questions that I had no answers for; and I was ashamed.
Everyone knew of our long standing friendship and assumed that if anyone had the answers, it would be me.
Time, distance, and circumstances had separated us over the years and we lost contact. We had only spoken a handful of times since high school and then only long enough to bring ourselves up to date.
I really began to beat myself up inside. I was a horrible person to have lost contact and for not being there, being involved, supporting my friend in need. My best friend, my first ever best friend.
As I continued to beat myself up inside, I reflected over the many years of our friendship. I wasn’t hard, not like I had just completely forgotten, as my kids will attest from the many stories I have shared with them at the dinner table through the years. Stories that always started with “I remember when Chuck and I”
Chuck and I first met roughly 40 years ago, in a Sunday school classroom just behind us here. By 1:00 that day, I was in Chuck’s front yard and never left for almost 10 years.
It was an instant match. We were self-sufficient, and definitely self-entertaining, we laughed nonstop for those 10 years. We would try anything and were afraid of nothing. We had each other’s backs. And Glen was always there to tell us that what we were about to do was just way too stupid and kept us out of trouble. Well, except for the time that some older guys in the neighborhood talked us into throwing firecrackers into the yard of a lady across the street here, and she saw us; and the deputies visited us at each of our homes. Other than that, we stayed out of trouble. I guess Glen wasn’t home that day.
We were always together, always on the go. We were at school together; we worked at Felton’s together, always together. We even dressed alike. We both boasted that we each had the largest collection of silk Nic-Nic shirts from Maas brothers, because we wore the same size and we shared.
And, we could talk for hours. Anything and everything. We planned our futures and the how we would change the world.
We would be photographers, lawyers, international hit men, always something big. But always a plan. And part of that plan for the future always included a great woman by our sides.
Then we met Brian. And then there were 3. Nothing else changed, just now, there were 3 of us. 3 times the fun.
Things began to change when a 4th entered the picture. Our 1st year at Plant City High school and new people that we had never met before from Turkey Creek. Especially Durant. Her name is Brenda. Never at a loss for words, all Chuck could say when he saw her for the first time was “Oh Man!” There was now a new plan for the future in the works and she was going to be involved.
The change was slow at first but there was change. 24/7 for the 3 Musketeers was now over. Brenda was getting some of that time. So it was no surprise to me when Chuck made the announcement. It was the one day that Chuck and I skipped school and went to the beach. Our plans never worked out 100% and it was rainy that day. We went any way and sat on the beach under overcast skies. When I complained about the clouds blocking the sun, Chuck said “Just like Brenda”. What? Chuck told me that he was in love, with Brenda. All he could see was Brenda, just like the clouds blocking the sun. Wow! This is hugh.
When Chuck couldn’t be with Brenda, we were together. We may have toned back our escapades a little. Chuck didn’t want to do anything that might embarrass Brenda so we were a little more subdued.
One night, Chuck, Brian and I were on our way back from a movie. Don’t remember the name but there were guns and explosions. It was a story of 3 lifelong friends that had separated over the years. One of the 3 had a problem that he just couldn’t handle by himself so he called on the only people that he knew would help unconditionally and without reservation. They were there in a flash and the 3 together took care of business, together. We made that commitment to each other that night in Chuck’s car. If any one of us could not handle it alone, we would call the others in. Problem solved.
Fast forward…
The transition was complete. We were out of school, on our own. Soon, Chuck would make the complete transition. Husband and then father. We hadn’t realized that fulfilling our master plan would be so hard, and so time consuming. We all found our good women but then, more school, jobs, looking for new jobs, starting new jobs, kids and more kids. The era of the 3 musketeers was over.
Why am I telling you this?
Remember, I have been making myself sick because I wasn’t there for my friend. But, I know that in Chuck’s mind he remembered the commitment we made in his car that night. If he needed us he would have called. But, he had his wife and he had his kids and that was enough for him. It was not yet bad enough that he needed the 3 musketeers to step in. That doesn’t make me feel better about not being there but I know that Chuck handled this the way he wanted and would harbor no ill feeling towards me.
Chuck; I now extend that commitment to Brenda and your sons. Brenda; if there ever comes a time that you, any of you just can’t handle it on your own, call us. This offer, this pledge never expires. The 2 musketeers will step in to get you through.
Roy Gaither
March 1, 2010. Mr. Mathias was an IT consultant in Atlanta, Ga. He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Mathias. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Mathias; sons, Clayton Ross Mathias. Casey Maxwell Mathias and Cory James Mathias, all of Fayetteville, Ga.; mother, Lorene Mathias; brother, Glenn Mathias, both of Plant City, Fla. Mr. Mathias was cremated. His remains will be brought back to Plant City for a memorial service at a later date.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tbo/obituary.aspx?n=charles-erwin-mathias-chuck&pid=140926269#sthash.LhCleREM.dpuf
Jerry Evans
From the memorial for Chuck.
On the day of Chuck’s passing, my phone began to ring, and my email pinged non-stop with words of condolences, and questions
Questions that I had no answers for; and I was ashamed.
Everyone knew of our long standing friendship and assumed that if anyone had the answers, it would be me.
Time, distance, and circumstances had separated us over the years and we lost contact. We had only spoken a handful of times since high school and then only long enough to bring ourselves up to date.
I really began to beat myself up inside. I was a horrible person to have lost contact and for not being there, being involved, supporting my friend in need. My best friend, my first ever best friend.
As I continued to beat myself up inside, I reflected over the many years of our friendship. I wasn’t hard, not like I had just completely forgotten, as my kids will attest from the many stories I have shared with them at the dinner table through the years. Stories that always started with “I remember when Chuck and I”
Chuck and I first met roughly 40 years ago, in a Sunday school classroom just behind us here. By 1:00 that day, I was in Chuck’s front yard and never left for almost 10 years.
It was an instant match. We were self-sufficient, and definitely self-entertaining, we laughed nonstop for those 10 years. We would try anything and were afraid of nothing. We had each other’s backs. And Glen was always there to tell us that what we were about to do was just way too stupid and kept us out of trouble. Well, except for the time that some older guys in the neighborhood talked us into throwing firecrackers into the yard of a lady across the street here, and she saw us; and the deputies visited us at each of our homes. Other than that, we stayed out of trouble. I guess Glen wasn’t home that day.
We were always together, always on the go. We were at school together; we worked at Felton’s together, always together. We even dressed alike. We both boasted that we each had the largest collection of silk Nic-Nic shirts from Maas brothers, because we wore the same size and we shared.
And, we could talk for hours. Anything and everything. We planned our futures and the how we would change the world.
We would be photographers, lawyers, international hit men, always something big. But always a plan. And part of that plan for the future always included a great woman by our sides.
Then we met Brian. And then there were 3. Nothing else changed, just now, there were 3 of us. 3 times the fun.
Things began to change when a 4th entered the picture. Our 1st year at Plant City High school and new people that we had never met before from Turkey Creek. Especially Durant. Her name is Brenda. Never at a loss for words, all Chuck could say when he saw her for the first time was “Oh Man!” There was now a new plan for the future in the works and she was going to be involved.
The change was slow at first but there was change. 24/7 for the 3 Musketeers was now over. Brenda was getting some of that time. So it was no surprise to me when Chuck made the announcement. It was the one day that Chuck and I skipped school and went to the beach. Our plans never worked out 100% and it was rainy that day. We went any way and sat on the beach under overcast skies. When I complained about the clouds blocking the sun, Chuck said “Just like Brenda”. What? Chuck told me that he was in love, with Brenda. All he could see was Brenda, just like the clouds blocking the sun. Wow! This is hugh.
When Chuck couldn’t be with Brenda, we were together. We may have toned back our escapades a little. Chuck didn’t want to do anything that might embarrass Brenda so we were a little more subdued.
One night, Chuck, Brian and I were on our way back from a movie. Don’t remember the name but there were guns and explosions. It was a story of 3 lifelong friends that had separated over the years. One of the 3 had a problem that he just couldn’t handle by himself so he called on the only people that he knew would help unconditionally and without reservation. They were there in a flash and the 3 together took care of business, together. We made that commitment to each other that night in Chuck’s car. If any one of us could not handle it alone, we would call the others in. Problem solved.
Fast forward…
The transition was complete. We were out of school, on our own. Soon, Chuck would make the complete transition. Husband and then father. We hadn’t realized that fulfilling our master plan would be so hard, and so time consuming. We all found our good women but then, more school, jobs, looking for new jobs, starting new jobs, kids and more kids. The era of the 3 musketeers was over.
Why am I telling you this?
Remember, I have been making myself sick because I wasn’t there for my friend. But, I know that in Chuck’s mind he remembered the commitment we made in his car that night. If he needed us he would have called. But, he had his wife and he had his kids and that was enough for him. It was not yet bad enough that he needed the 3 musketeers to step in. That doesn’t make me feel better about not being there but I know that Chuck handled this the way he wanted and would harbor no ill feeling towards me.
Chuck; I now extend that commitment to Brenda and your sons. Brenda; if there ever comes a time that you, any of you just can’t handle it on your own, call us. This offer, this pledge never expires. The 2 musketeers will step in to get you through.
Jerry Martin
Jerry I salute you! Thanks for the memory of Chuck! That had to be hard to share! You are the man!!!