In Loving Memory of Dr. Wayne Matthews

November 26, 1944 – August 28, 2026

Wayne Matthews, a devoted husband and father; grandfather; son; brother; friend; public servant; scholar; scientist; educator; and ordained permanent deacon of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026 at the age of 81. He was surrounded by his family – and thru God’s grace, also by others who supported him spiritually.

Born on November 26, 1944, Wayne was the son of the late Georges Matthews, Jr. and the late Melba Baranco Matthews. He is also preceded in death by his sister, Dollie Matthews.

Wayne is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Dr. Ingrid Matthews; and by his children, Melba Natasha Sanchez-Dixon (Donnell); Wayne Matthews II (Ana); Tad Matthews (Faith); and Rachel Matthews Nwabuisi (David). He also leaves behind seven grandchildren. They are Second Lieutenant C. Jared Sanchez; Mia, Wayne III and Ian Matthews; Reed and Adeline Matthews; and Meadow Nwabuisi.

Wayne is also survived by his brother, Ronald Matthews and brother-in-law, Randall Walker. Besides immediate family, Wayne will be missed by many others to whom he was also close. These include friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, other extended family and former esteemed colleagues.

Wayne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology after attending the Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and the University of Southwestern Louisiana -now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL). As a young scientist, he made contributions toward a search for a cure for bilharzia (or schistosomiasis) at the University of Chicago. Later, at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), contributions included his direct research and analysis work that led to making vaccinations for children significantly safer (by uncovering the immunological nature of adverse responses in an identified vaccination). He also worked as a researcher at the Tulane School of Tropical Medicine, as a quality control chemist for Enjay Chemical Company, and then for both county and state governments before going to work for the FDA.

Later, Wayne earned both his master’s degree and his doctoral degree from the University of Southern California (USC), an achievement that reflected his lifelong respect for education, scholarship, and intellectual growth. While at USC’s branch in Washington DC, the USC Washington Public Affairs Center (in the 1970’s and 1980’s), he served as the president of the doctoral association. There, he studied public administration and the applied behavioral sciences.

Wayne’s professional life encompassed significant work in government, science and academia. He was an adjunct associate professor at several universities (teaching such courses as Strategic Management and Global Management to graduate students. These universities included George Mason University, University of Denver, APUS (American Public University System) which includes American Military University (AMU), and University of Maryland University College (UMUC)/Global Campus (UMGC). He also provided training and organization development services through Matthews & Associates, and he belonged to organizations such as the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) Division of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. He made presentations on his published works such as Chaos and Change at conferences at such as the C. G. Jung Institute of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois in 1989.

He shared his knowledge, skills and experience with colleagues, mentees, students, and the communities he served. He utilized these skills to promote support and services that included scheduling skill-training events for deacons, providing support groups and organizational development work at churches, empowering communities in Southern West Virginia suffering from a drug epidemic, and offering services at a private institute in Frederick, Maryland (Dove Wellness Institute).

Wayne’s professional accomplishments were many. Within FDA, Wayne served in many roles both in the field and in Washington D.C. at headquarters, moving back and forth between these roles. During the first years of his career at FDA, he was selected after steep nationwide competition, as FDA management intern. In that capacity, he and his young family moved to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

While working in the field at the FDA, Wayne became the Deputy Director and then the Director of the FDA San Juan District in the Southeastern Region of the United States – or for the Island of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prior to this, service had included contributions across the country as an organization development expert – especially spanning the Southwest Region, northwestern states, and some central and southern states.

In Washington D.C., he worked within several bureaus of FDA, including Biologics, Drugs, and Compliance. Within the FDA Office of the Commissioner, he served as director of policy analysis – and as special advisor to several commissioners. His leadership throughout FDA was noteworthy and recognized by FDA and by those he served or served alongside such as the elected leaders of the territory of Puerto Rico as well as top managers of federal agencies.

While in Denver, similar successes included accreditation of federal laboratories and other improvements to better serve the American people thru FDA. He partnered with federal executives from other government agencies, chaired the Executive Board in Denver, developed strategic plans for various districts through consensus, and worked with others to implement them.

Under his executive leadership, while acting FDA district director in San Juan, Wayne managed regular FDA services while also leading improvements in interagency and state relationships, establishing the first island-wide interagency group, or the Caribbean Interagency Regulatory and Law Enforcement Group (CIRLEG) that consisted of top management from groups as the FBI, U.S. Customs, U.S. Army Southern Command, EPA, CDC, USDA, DEA, and Puerto Rican Departments of Health, Consumer Affairs and Agriculture. With the support of the governors of Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands, as well of the secretaries of the other Puerto Rican government agencies, the CIRLEG also developed an area-wide plan to handle counter-terrorism threats (such as anthrax, Ebola, nerve gas and radiation). His career in government service reflected his dedication to protecting the public and advancing the mission of the agencies/ institutions he represented and with which FDA partnered.

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At the heart of Wayne’s life was his upbringing within his Christian faith as well as his vocation of service to the Church. As a permanent deacon, he served twice in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – initially during the leadership of Cardinal William H. Keeler and later under Archbishop William E. Lori. He also served the Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico at Stella Maris Catholic Church in Condado. There, he was assigned by Archbishop Roberto Octavio Gonzalas Nieves to take responsibility for diaconal services to the English-speaking Church.

Upon Wayne’s return to the mainland United States, he and his wife were invited to serve in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston by Bishop Bernard Schmidt. In West Virginia, after his appointment by Bishop Schmidt, he served as deacon at St. Joseph’s Parish in Martinsburg. He simultaneously served as director of planning for the diocese.

He was ordained in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1992 at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, Maryland. In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, he simultaneously served as parish deacon at Holy Family Catholic Community in Middletown, Maryland (in the Western Vicariate under Bishop Frank Murphy); as consultor to Bishop John Ricard at the diocesan level; and as the elected chair of the Permanent Deacon Personnel Board. He assisted the bishop with the merging and twinning of churches in the diocese. This included the training of facilitators to assist with the success of the process. Due to moving, and his career at FDA, he would later have opportunities to serve in Colorado, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia. His final assignment, before deacon retirement, was in Western Maryland within the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

For Wayne, the diaconate was a gift from God. He wanted to make a difference – and through service, he and his family discovered the many gifts that accompany fellowship within a faith community. The diaconate was an expression of his belief that a meaningful life is one lived in service to God and to others. He belonged to Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus – and he helped to initiate others such as a chapter of St. Vincent De Paul. He also supported social justice and programs such as a food bank program, the Share Food Program. This particular program was established through his association with the Knights of Columbus in Frederick, Maryland. This community service was continued in fellowship thru the untiring dedication and leadership of parishioner, Mr. Mark Bevington of Middletown.

Wayne’s was a life of remarkable breadth. His zest for life was fed by many interests including sports in his youth as well as art and painting. He often did his own home improvements – and was an avid gardener who had a few prized magnolias as well as fruit trees in the garden of the childhood home of his children. He also was an attentive father who loved spending time with his children – and they credit their father for transmitting and sharing his zest for life with them. He felt honored to utilize God-given gifts in service that simultaneously enriched his life in ways that left him feeling he received much more than he gave.

In summary, Wayne was a man whose life crossed many worlds and evolved along a common thread of service to others. In the end, he was no longer able to serve, but courageously and gratefully allowed others to serve him. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends and found ways to show his love and appreciation to others to the end.

Wayne held close the words of Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” He was grateful for the fullness of his life and for the opportunities and successes he believed could only have been guided by the hand of God. In the Catholic tradition that shaped so much of his life, his family now entrusts him to God’s mercy and eternal love, confident that the faith he proclaimed and served throughout his earthly life has carried him home.

The family is grateful to Saint Leo Catholic Church’s pastor, Father Alfred Obiudu, for his ministry, and to Sister Judith Rojas of the Daughters of Charity for her presence, spiritual support, and guidance, especially during Wayne’s final hours. Others who profoundly shaped Wayne’s life and spiritual growth included his grandparents, Dr. Raymond Baranco, M.D., and Mrs. Blanche Daigre Baranco, as well as two Sisters of the Holy Family from New Orleans, Louisiana: the late Sister Audrey Marie Detiege, Wayne’s longtime spiritual director and author of the first book-length history of Henriette Delille, and the late Sister Bonaventure Jackson, who also served as his spiritual director after Sister Audrey Marie’s death. Ingrid and the family will always be grateful to these servants of God for the immeasurable spiritual support they gave Wayne.

A funeral mass will take place at Saint Leo Catholic Church in Inwood, West Virginia, on Thursday morning, September 10, 2026 at 11 a.m. Visitation begins that morning at 9:30 am and ends at 11:00 a.m.

Reception to follow at St. Leo Catholic Church.

Interment will take place at a later date.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.