Dr. James W. Mathews, 81, of Carrollton, Ga., died Saturday, March 1, 2008. A prolific writer, dedicated teacher and community leader, Dr. Mathews, who retired in 1992, had served on the faculty of West Georgia College for 32 years and was emeritus chair of the Division of Humanities and the English Department. He was born June 27, 1926, in East Point, Ga., the only child of the late George Ephriam and Lillian Wells Mathews. He was graduated from Russell High School in 1943 and entered David Lipscomb College in Nashville, TN. After a year of college, he was inducted into the U.S. Army on September 16, 1944. He served in Italy until the end of World War II and returned to college where he earned a bachelor's degree in English and history in 1949. He received a master's degree in journalism and English in 1950 from Emory University and a Ph.D. in English and philosophy in 1960 from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Mathews began his long and distinguished teaching career by serving as an instructor at Marion Institute in Marion, AL. This was followed by teaching stints at Oklahoma Christian College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and at the University of Tennessee. He was named professor of English at West Georgia College in 1960, serving as chairman of the Humanities Division from 1960 until 1973 and as chairman of the Department of English from 1973 until his retirement. Dr. Mathews called the names of the graduates at every commencement from 1973 until 1992, frequently checking with the students and noting how to pronounce their names. He never forgot a student. He authored scores of articles, specializing in American writers. He co-authored "50 Years of Excellence,� a short history of West Georgia College that was published for its 50th anniversary celebration. He also co-edited (with J. Lasley Dameron) "No Fairer Land: Southern Literature Before 1900.� He served as a faculty advisor to numerous student organizations and was a member of many professional and academic organizations. In 1993, he was named Outstanding Professor Emeritus by the West Georgia Alumni Association. He was a member of the Carrollton Rotary Club, holding numerous offices including president in 1976-77 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was an active member of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, serving as a former senior warden and as a member of the choir until his death. He participated in the Little Tallapoosa Botanical Society and the Friday Professors, a small group of retired professors who meet for lunch every Friday. He was a frequent guest speaker and lecturer for community groups and was known for his dramatic presentations as Sinclair Lewis's "Babbitt� and his biographical monologues as William Faulkner. He and his wife, the former Elizabeth Owens, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in 2007. In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Jeanne Mathews of Rome, Ga., and Marianna Folger and husband Frank of Trophy Club, Texas; grandchildren Raleigh Mecklin (James Barnes) of Villa Rica, Andrew Mecklin of Carrollton, Lindsey Folger Brown (Guy Brown) of Houston, Texas, and Claire Folger of Houston, Texas; and great granddaughter, Caroline Barnes. The family visitation will be Monday, March 3 from 6-8:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Hazel Glover with music by organist Dr. Robert Coe and the church choir. Pallbearers are George Lenaeus, Dr. Wilton Key, James Barnes, Andrew Mecklin, Guy Brown and James Cooper. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. David Griffin, Dr. Benjamin Griffith, Dr. Eugene Huck and members of the Friday Professors: Dr. James K. Murphy, Dr. Paul Bowdre, Dr. Gerald Garmon, Dr. Hines Edwards, Ken Sapp and Joe Cumming. In lieu of flowers, donations in may be given for a scholarship in his honor to the University of West Georgia Foundation, 1601 Maple St., Carrollton, GA, 30117. Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.