John Matthews

John Matthews, broadcast journalist

Broadcast journalist and educator John Matthews died November 3, 2025, at UF Shands Hospital in Gainesville following a brief illness.

Mr. Matthews had a storied career in radio and television news, most recently as a correspondent in the NBC News Atlanta bureau. After returning to Florida, he shared the gift of communications as an adjunct professor of communications. In retirement, he continued his work as an educator for Alachua County Public Schools.

Graduating from the University of Florida in 1973 with a degree in journalism and communications, Mr. Matthews gathered, wrote and delivered radio news at WRUF and WDVH in Gainesville and WMBR in Jacksonville.

Mr. Matthews took his blond hair, brown eyes and remarkable writing and story-telling skills to television in Jacksonville, where he reported and anchored the news for WTLV, Channel 12. He moved on to become the main anchor and to report at WXIA, Channel 11, the NBC affiliate in Atlanta before joining the NBC news network.

Mr. Matthews met his wife, the late Sharon Ann Anderson, when the two were students at UF. After a marriage of 43 years, Ms. Matthews passed away on October 10th in Gainesville, and he followed her 24 days later.

While his politics were opaque to his listeners and viewers, Mr. Matthews was a lifetime Democrat who valued his relationship with his uncle, the late D.R. “Billy” Matthews, a seven-term member of Congress from north central Florida.

He was a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Matthews was born John Roy Matthews, Jr., on August 18th, 1946, in Jacksonville to the late John Roy Matthews, Sr., and Elizabeth Seale Matthews. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

Mr. Matthews was also predeceased by his son, John Roy (Singleton) Matthews III, and his brother, James Matthews.

He is survived by his niece, Deborah Smith Matthews (Wayne) and great nephew, Jimmy Smith, both of Ormond Beach, four cousins, and extended family members.