Matthew Randall James

Gastonia – Matthew Randall James died unexpectedly while riding his four-wheeler on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. As his loved ones and many friends grieve his loss, they celebrate his life, where it was headed and what he meant to so many. Matt was 30 years old. He had faced his share of challenges – who hasn’t? – and come through them, thanks to his love of Jesus and family. In November, he heard the call to preach and couldn’t wait to continue to share his testimony and what God has done in his life. There is no telling how many wanderers he would have shown the way. Born and raised in Gastonia, Matt was the son of Tony Randall and Angie Shook James. A graduate of Forestview High School, he was using his carpentry skills as owner of American Made Custom Carpentry. How he enjoyed working with his hands, serving customers and building beautiful furniture. As his wife, Heather, says, if you were around Matt, you were having an adventure. He was loving, hilarious & so fun to be around. In his free time, he loved to fish, hunt, shoot guns, watch movies, ride four-wheelers and dirt bikes, laugh and make everyone else laugh, cook hibachi, play his guitar, listen to loud music, sing in church and help anyone with anything. He loved his many, many pets and farm animals too. Matt was a man of many talents. Learning from his dad, he used what he knew to help so many people. His favorite place was in church with his wife and kids, singing and praising God. He had begun studying the Bible, preparing for when it would be him up there in the pulpit. If you knew Matt, you knew he would have poured his heart and soul into it.

Matt is survived by his wife, Heather Rae James; three children – Payton Marie James, Easton Randall James and Samuel Isaiah Shepard and his fiancée, Tayler Edwards; sister Tiffany James Ormand and her husband, Latt; grandparents Betty Shook and Jane Cooper and her husband, Dave; niece Abbie Grace Carson; and nephew Owen Lattimore Ormand. Also left to grieve, and keep Matt’s legacy alive, are numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, “bonus” family members, cherished friends and his church family. He was preceded in death by his Pawpaw, Randall James; his Pop and best friend, Charles Shook; and many friends who were part of his extended family.

 A service to celebrate Matt’s life will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Clover First Freewill Baptist Church, 307 Valley Ave., Clover, S.C. Pastors Eddie Carson, Ronnie Dale and Scottie Stewart will lead the service. The family will greet friends from 2-3 p.m. at the church.

Rather than flowers, a gift in Matt’s memory can be made to two addiction ministries: Hammerdown Ministries, P.O. Box 898, Lugoff, S.C. 29078 (Cash app: Sonrisebc) or Changed Lives Ministries, P.O. Box 1737, Moncks Corner, S.C. 29461.

Withers and Whisenant Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 2916 Union Road, Gastonia, N.C. (704) 864-5144 is serving the family.

Online condolences can be shared at www.withersandwhisenantfuneral.com.