Major Larry Joseph Mattina (Retired USAF)

Major Larry Joseph Mattina (Retired USAF) born in Biloxi, MS on August 9, 1939, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021 in Gulfport, MS. Mr. Mattina graduated from Biloxi High School in 1957. He attended and played basketball at Perkinston Junior College from 1957 – 1959 and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1961 where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He served in Logistics in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 – 1983 and retired in Biloxi. Mr. Mattina served and traveled the world with his family from the far reaches of Japan and Greenland and domestically in California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama. After retiring, he dove into his first love, music, with a passion. As a child, he learned how to play the drums and started his first band, The Hi-Five, on Holley Street in Biloxi. As he grew up, he played in The Dominoes, The Night Riders and many others and later with his “baby”, The Biloxi Blues Band. He was a devoted LSU Tiger fan and a member of the Who Dat Nation. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leora and Joseph Mattina of Biloxi; his sister, Debbie Simon of Biloxi; his niece, Kellie Whitmore of Baton Rouge, LA; and his brother-in-law, Arthur Broussard of Baton Rouge, LA. Mr. Mattina’s survivors include his daughters, Michelle (John) McCormick of Daphne, AL, Tracey Mattina and Janey Mattina of Biloxi, MS; his grandson, Jack McCormick of Daphne, AL; his former wife, Judy (Lacy) Pickering of Fairhope, AL; his sisters, Arlene M. (Arthur) Broussard of Baton Rouge, LA and Mary Beth M. (Joe) Northrup of Prarieville, LA; his brother, Ronnie Mattina (Susan James) of D’Iberville, MS; and many nieces, nephews and cousins along the Coast. The family wishes to thank Dr. Byrd and Dr. Wilson at Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center, the staff of Brookdale for their years of care and the staff of Canon Hospice. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Loaves and Fishes of Biloxi at loavesbiloxi.com or to Roost of Music New Orleans at roots ofmusic.org A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Nativity BVM Cathedral in Biloxi on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 1:30 pm. Friends may visit from 12:00 pm until Mass time. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Mattina family.