Wayne Matthews, 39

Wayne Matthews, 39, of Spindale, died Saturday, December 20, 2025.

He was the son of Viva and Eric Wheat of Gaffney, SC. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Larry Philbeck. He served as a corrections officer at the Rutherford Correctional Center in Spindale for five years. He was a big Dallas Cowboys and South Carolina Gamecocks fan. 

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife Skye Philbeck Matthews; his children, Davis Matthews, Hadlee Matthews, and Penelope Matthews; maternal grandparents, Vera Holler of Gaffney, SC, and Jim and Catherine Burchfield of Blacksburg, SC; his sisters, Erika Wyatt and her husband Michael, and Faith Wheat, all of Gaffney; his brothers, Cody Matthews and his wife Lori of Mayo, SC, and Tyler Matthews and his wife Samantha of Cowpens, SC; special in-laws, several nieces and nephews, his dear coworkers at Rutherford Correctional Center, and many close friends. 

 A Graveside Service will be conducted at 3:00 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery. 763 Salem Church Road, Bostic.  Seth Austin will officiate. Rutherford Correction Center Honor Guard will serve as pallbearers: Tramell Forney, Jacob Gallman, Michael Walker, Kyle Beaver, Jared Bright, David Holbrook, Shane Owenby, and Justin Jackson. 

The Visitation will be held from 5 pm until 7 pm Monday at Washburn & Dorsey Funeral Home.

A Memorial Fund will be established soon for the children's college funds, please check back with this obituary @ www.washburndorsey.com for an update.