Memorial Services will be held at 6:30 PM Friday, September 29, 2023, at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, Miss., for JAMES MATTHEW MORGAN,

49, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss. passed away in North Little Rock, AR., on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

Matt was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1974 and grew up in the city. He graduated in 1992 from Hattiesburg High School, where he starred as a pitcher on the baseball team and earned the nickname Slinky because of his tall and lanky frame. He continued his baseball career at USM and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He had a lifetime love for USM athletics and Alabama football.

Matt cherished being a father. There was nothing he loved more than his family, especially his son Fen and his nephews. He had an infectious smile and a huge heart, and he was always up for a night of music. Widespread Panic was a favorite, and he traveled across the South countless times to see their shows.

He was happy outdoors, camping or grilling, and moved to Lake Tahoe after college with friends to experience the Sierra Nevada mountains. He would go out of his way to see a sunset. He kept thousands of sunset photos on his phone and shared them with his family. He was an avid photographer and loved creating art drawings.

Matt was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Courtney Nicholson, and grandparents, John and Mary Jo (Jodie) (Gangy) Morgan and Bilbo & Viola Courtney.

He is survived by his son, Fen Morgan; his father and bonus mom, Jim and Diane Morgan and stepparents, Carl Nicholson and Martha Nicholson; siblings, Courtney Gregory (Clay), Sharon Courtney (Chris Allen), Mark Courtney, Sarah Horton (Brad), Russell Manning, and Jeffrey Nicholson; nephews, Jax and Clay Gregory, Eli Harp, Sage and Sam Manning, Davis and McCall Nicholson and Uncle Ed Morgan (Karen).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan Nicholson Memorial Endowment at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM Friday, September 29, 2023, at Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, Miss.