Vernon Bryan Mathias, Jr.

Vernon Bryan Mathias, Jr., 78, better known as Jigger to family and friends (a moniker bestowed by an aunt when he was a few days old), died at his home in Oxford Thursday, June 1, 2023. The Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 9, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. in the Chapel in Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Brian Sorgenfrei officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service in West Hall beginning at 12:30 noon.

He was born April 19, 1945, in Greenwood MS, which didn’t really count, because he was a child of Cruger, MS, where he left his heart and soul, no matter where he resided. A country boy of the 1950s, he was a Boy Scout, rode bicycles, floated in the Barrett swimming pool, and worked in the family’s general store. He was a 1963 graduate of Tchula, MS high school, and a 1967 graduate of The University of Mississippi. He lettered in Mens Riflery, a fact he wanted everybody he ever met to know. He returned to Ole Miss for an accounting degree in 1973. The Mathias family were charter members of Cruger Independent Methodist Church.

He was predeceased by his father, Vernon Mathias; mother, Marion Cole Mathias Brown; sister, Marion Elizabeth Mathias; favorite aunt, who helped raise him, Nola Elinor Mathias; stepfather, Junius Brown; stepsister, Elizabeth Brown Gibson; and several other aunts, uncles, and cousins of the Mathias, Cole, & Pritchard lineage.

His employment took him to towns like Ringgold GA, Greenwood, and Meridian, MS, before settling in Vicksburg, MS in 1981 (thanks to the late Tim Case who hired him for his new venture in Cary & Valley Park). He retired as Controller from Cappaert Enterprises, having worked for the F. L. Cappaert family 30 years. He and Rose Mary moved to Oxford, MS in 2018 to be near their sons and grandsons. There he discovered a cadre of old Cruger-Tchula buddies who had also retired to Oxford.

When he was younger, he never missed deer season at his beloved Parker Gary Camp in Valley Park, MS, from age 12 to 70, teaching his sons a love of hunting, shooting sports, and wildlife. A Life Member of the NRA, he loved firearms of all types, and was a devotee of Colt 1911s. He was often at the range shooting and taught many a youngster how to shoot and safely handle firearms. He loved cats, Corvettes (it is rumored that he sold his ’73 to buy RoRo’s engagement ring), IMSA racing, and tolerated NASCAR & IndyCar. He was a fair-to-middling tennis player on the local Cruger tennis courts back in the day.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Rose Mary, of Oxford (whom he affectionately called RoRo); his hearts, sons, Bryan Cole Mathias (Jessica) of Oxford, and Michael Holmes Mathias (Sally) of Mechanicsville, VA; the lights of his life, five grandsons, Charles and Andrew of Oxford; and, Max, Simon, and Mitchell of Mechanicsville; his stepsister, Grace Brown Toler of Jackson; his cats, Grey and Dusty; and a handful of Cole cousins.

The family would like to express appreciation and love to Gentiva Hospice; and Home Instead caregiver, Jordyn Eubanks.

He would ask that in his honor, you pop an Excedrin, drink a Coke or Coke Zero, and safely fire off a .45 round at the range.