Green Mathews

Green Mathews Jr. (affectionately known as Red) was born, March 9, 1950, in Cleveland Ohio. He was the 2nd of three children born to Green Mathews Sr. (deceased) and Barbara Tucker. He is preceded in death by Bruce Mathews (son) Christian Mathews (son), Yvonne Mathews (sister), Green Mathews Sr. (father), and William Tucker (step-father).

Red attended Cleveland Municipal public schools and graduated from Glenville Senior High school. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served two tours in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged. Later in the years, he met and married Jan Gildersleeve. He attended and graduated from PSI School of Electronics. As a young man, Red became an apprentice under his father who taught him the trade of roofing, painting, carpentry, and plumbing. Red became an entrepreneur and established Green's General Contractor known to many throughout the Cleveland area. He was undisputedly a master of his craft. Red's specialty was painting. He was responsible for the total renovation of the historical Hot Sauce Williams franchise and other well-known establishments around Cleveland. Red's skills afforded him many opportunities to travel with his carpentry business across the country. He was also an auto mechanic by trade and a skilled craftsman in several other areas.

Red was a father figure to the community, often teaching young men carpentry skills as a means of self-employment. He was tough on these young men but loved them in the same breath. He was a man that fostered his community whether it was financial help, carpentry or just a hot meal. Red charged himself with being the protector of the people. He would provide jobs for people to have an income to survive. Along with his partner in crime, Mike, they would help people in need around the community.

Red was an OG. He had a passion for classic cars. He dressed to impress on a consistent basis, wearing tailored suits, various hats, gold jewelry, and his infamous gator shoes. His west coast style was unmatched in the city of Cleveland. Red's mindset, loving heart and overall perspective will have a lasting impression on his family for generations to come.

Red departed this life on March 5, 2024. He leaves his legacy and memory to his mother, Barbara Y. Tucker, his children: GJaiden (Lil Ricky) B. Stewart (Karla), Treva E. Mathews, Theresa Crews (Antoine), and Thomas Shirley, three sisters: Diane Dark, Loretta Cook, Monica Mathews, grandchildren: Ariyon Taylor, Jhermari, Kimora, Dleantia, Taylor, Eluysv, and Tiana, one great grandchild: Arya Taylor, lifelong best friend, Michael Lewis, devoted family friends, Linda and Lois, a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, and special friend Rebekah.

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