Thomas Barker Matthews

Thomas Barker Matthews, 59, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, July 5, 2026, with his beloved wife Angie by his side ending a three and half year battle with ALS. This ended a battle that Tom and Angie fought side by side with dignity and love.

Tom was born on January 11, 1967, in New Orleans, LA to Robert Shaw and Ann Barker Matthews. The family relocated to Gulfport, MS in 1971 where Tom spent the rest of his life enjoying everything the Mississippi Gulf Coast had to offer. He graduated from St. John Catholic High School in 1985 and attended the University of Mississippi. Following his freshman year, Tom transferred to Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL where he graduated with a BS in Business Economics in 1990. Tom began his professional career working in the purchasing department with Dole Fresh Fruit at the Port of Gulfport, Stevedoring Services of America as a Ship’s Superintendent and the Mississippi State Port Authority, Port of Gulfport, as Director of Operations. In 1999 Tom co-founded Matthews Marine Inc. with his brother, Shaw Matthews, which later became Matthews Brothers Dredging, Inc. Together they directed the company for 23 years.

Tom had many interests which included cruising and racing aboard his sailboat "Tomfoolery", hunting and spending time with family at his hunting property in Carlisle, fishing and spending time with family and friends aboard his trawler "Hobo" and he could spend hours on the subject of World War II and its battle history.

Anyone that knew Tom knew that his faith in God was the strength of his existence. He was always willing to engage in a deep intellectual conversation about almost anything especially his Catholic faith. Curious by nature, Tom never stopped asking questions.

Tom is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents and his namesake, Oville Thomas and Edith Foret Barker of Lockport, LA; paternal grandparents, Robert Felix and Myrtle Shaw Matthews of Mobile, AL; and his father, Robert Shaw Matthews of Gulfport, MS.

Tom is survived by his wife Angela L. Matthews; her daughter, Chloe Lucus; son, Joshua Lucus; her granddaughter, Esme Louise Landers. His mother, Ann Barker Matthews of Pass Christian; his brother, Robert Shaw Matthews, Jr. and his wife Ruth; his sister, Sarah Matthews Cahn and her husband Cory of New Orleans, LA. Tom is also survived by nieces and nephews that he made sure kept a special place in his heart and filled a huge part of his life with joy, Trilby, Annabella and Sarah Matthews. Matthew, Catherine and Thomas Cahn. Also, of very special importance in Tom’s life are his two friends and caregivers Jerry “Bubby” Duggan and Daniel McGill.

Our family would like to thank the many friends who visited, asked about, prayed for and continued to keep Tom’s presence front and center every day. It all helped otherwise long days pass knowing how many loved and cared.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like for friends to consider donations to St Vincent de Paul Society, St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport, or the Team Gleason Foundation, New Orleans in support of ALS patients.

Visitation will be from 10 - 11:30 am, Saturday, July 11, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street, Gulfport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am in the church. A private graveside service will be held in the Matthews Family Cemetery, Carlisle Community, Claiborne County, MS, at a later date.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport, is honored to serve the Matthews family.