(Ret.) Sr. Deputy (Reverend) Matthew Jackson McCants 

Matthew McCants was born May 20, 1950 in Columbia, South Carolina, to the late Caleb Jackson and Mable Pressley (Capers) McCants. He was a Grandson of Joshua and Rebecca Anderson Jackson and Jessie Bell Walker Pressley Davis.

He was a graduate of C.A. Johnson High School. After graduation he was drafted into the United States Army. After his military service he attended Benedict College. His career in law enforcement span some 40 years with numerous Law Enforcement Agencies and Departments. He was a graduate of the S.C. Department of Public Safety Criminal Justice Academy, he graduated in 1990 and again in 1997. He was employed in 1997 with the Richland County Sheriff Department as a Deputy Sheriff, and was later assigned to the SRO Division. He worked for the Richland County Sheriff Department for 20 years from which he retired in 2017. He was affectionally know as “Reb” throughout the department. Sheriff Leon Lott always referred to him as “My Preacher”. He took pride in his responsibilities as a deputy and being able to serve and protect his community. 

Matthew is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 39 years, Mrs. Machelle Wilson McCants; two sons, Matthew McCants II and Micah (Breanna) McCants I; two beautiful granddaughters whom he loved and cherished dearly, Emory Adele McCants and Aubree Mae McCants; his siblings, Sarah Ann Nelson, Deborah Jean (Pastor Everette) Knapper, Capers McCants, Jr. and Cecil (Bessie) Geiger; two aunts, Diane White and Evi Hudson; one uncle, Chester Pressley - all of Columbia, SC; three brother in-laws, Rev. Edward (Christel) Wilson of Columbia, SC, Samuel L. Wilson and Norris Bernard Wilson of Eastover, SC; and special adopted siblings, Carlotta Fox and Marshal Fox of Charlotte, NC.