Reverend Doctor Ulysses Samuel Mathis, Jr.

Reverend Ulysses Samuel Mathis pastored Antioch Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, Florida for 28 years. His many achievements at Antioch include the construction of an elevator for elderly and disabled parishioners, the incorporation of the church and the creation of te "Sons of Antioch" ministry - a ministry responsible for the training of future pastors. Nine ministers have gone on to pastor other congregations throughout the country.

Prior to the ministry, Doctor Mathis attended Booker T. Washington High School in Miami and declined a scholarship to Morehouse College to join the Air Force in 1951. Excelling in the Air Force, Doctor Mathis was on a team of engineers responsible for developing the first computers. Doctor Mathis served the United States through the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Doctor Mathis married Blanche Ely High School English teacher Juanita Catherine Chatman Mathis forty-four year ago and raised Ulysses Jr., Arlene, Dorothy, Reginald, Dominick and Cassandra. Doctor Mathis left this earth on Friday, June 28th, 2002 and left a legacy which will last eternal. Doctor Mathis was an inspiration to many. He believed in a "church without walls" and often opened the doors of the church to the homeless, downtrodden and drug addicted.

On the Tuesday prior to his death, Pastor Mathis gave a fiery address before the Pompano City Commission supporting Housing Authority member Woodrow Poitier. Doctor Mathis often appeared before the Broward County School Board, parole commissions and other civic panels.

Doctor Mathis was featured in the Sun Sentinel's Saturday, July 6th edition and in the Pompano Observer.