Coach Donald R. Mathews

MATHEWS, Coach Donald - Age 69, passed away Friday, September 12, 2025, at his residence. Family hour 10:00 AM Thursday, September 25, 2025, from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Reverend Angela N. Mathews officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery G-9506N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:00 AM Thursday. Coach Mathews will lie in State in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed Noon – 6:00 PM Wednesday. Donald Ray Mathews, also well known as "Coach", was born on August 16, 1956, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was the son of Evon and Burnestein (Carter) Mathews. After moving to the great state of Michigan, Donald later completed his high school education at Southwestern High School in Flint, Michigan and continued to further his education at Charles Stewart Mott College also in Flint. Donald's interests were that of Politics and History. But, as fate had it, something else piqued his interest which soon turned into his wife of 49 years, Anita Raye (Jefferson) Mathews. In that blessed union, they shared three children. Although Don faithfully worked for General Motors Corporation for 30 years, his true passion was coaching football and basketball. Starting at Whittier Middle School in September of 1981, Don began his football coaching career which spanned almost 4 decades long. He also lent his coaching talents in football at Holmes Middle School, Carman-Ainsworth Middle and High School, Hamady High School, and Kearsley High School. The list doesn't stop there. In the 1990's, "Coach" founded a Pop Warner Youth Football League here in Flint, MI, as well as being the Founder and Head Coach of The Michigan Admirals Semi-Pro Football Team in 2002. He also had the pleasure of coaching college club football at both The University of Michigan-Flint and Michigan State University. When asked, "Coach" would state that the highlight of his coaching career had nothing to do with football, rather it was coaching his youngest and her teammates for years in the Carman-Ainsworth Girls Basketball Winter and Summer Games. Besides coaching, Don's biggest pleasure was spending time with his grandsons, his family and friends and enjoying movies, sporting events, singing along to his favorite music, and playing dominos. While he is out of sight for now, his earthly memory will be cherished by: his loving and faithful wife, Anita Mathews; 3 children, Jessyca, Christopher and Angela Mathews; grandsons, Bjay, Gabriel and Michael Mathews; his mother, Burnestine Mathews; sister, Gwendolyn Mathews-Dangerfield; and brother, Andre' Mathews; a host of nieces, nephews-in-law, family, friends and players. Donald was preceded in earthly departure by his, father, Evon Mathews; paternal grandparents, Phillip and Geraldine Matthews; maternal grandparents, Elbert Sr. and Cora Carter.

Coach Donald R. Mathews

August 16, 1956 - September 12, 2025