By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
May 5, 2001
For the second time in his career, the Rev. Robert Matheny plans to retire.
Matheny, 85, officially retired as a Methodist pastor in 1986. But since moving to Meridian, he has served as minister of visitation at Central United Methodist Church.
Born in 1916, he was raised in Clarke, Wayne and Lauderdale counties. He attended Millsaps College and graduated with a bachelor's degree. He joined the Mississippi Conference in 1939 and was appointed to serve in the Hattiesburg circuit, which was comprised of 10 community churches.
During his career, he pastored churches in Richton, Jackson, Terre Haute, Ind., Meridian and Daleville.
Matheny was the Meridian district superintendent, He helped to organize Aldersgate Retirement Community and has remained active on the board for many years.
He and his wife, Emily, have four children.