James Matthew “Matt” Bennett of Sheridan, Arkansas, was born September 12, 1969, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the son of the late Jerry Bennett and Barbara Burks Finley.

The first thing he would want mentioned is that he was a proud and active member of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Sheridan.

He had a long, dedicated career in law enforcement, totaling 34 years, with multiple certificates and awards as a result. He worked for the Arkansas Department of Correction, Dumas Police Department, and recently retired from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office as a Sergeant.

As much as we’d like to make this obituary look like a glowing résumé of a flawless man, and list all of his accolades and accomplishments, we simply can’t. Not because we don’t feel he deserves it, but because it would not represent Matt the way Matt would want.

The first one to tell you of his lack of perfection would be Matt.

He would eagerly tell anyone about his mess-ups and mistakes, particularly people he encountered who, through their own bad choices, were having to cross paths with him.

He met people on their level, not to embarrass or criticize them, but rather he’d use his history as his testimony, pointing them toward Jesus and encouraging them to turn their lives around.

His faith was so very important to him, and he reached people that no pastor ever could.

Other than his love for his Lord, he was all about his girls.

His wife, his daughter, his granddaughters—they were his world. No man was ever as proud of his family as Matt was.

For Matt and his girls, love was never just a noun—it was a verb. It was something they lived, something they showed, and something they gave freely to one another every day.

In his spare time, he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and letting the wind blow through his… well, maybe not that part, but he did love riding his bike.

He also enjoyed tinkering with anything with horsepower.

Matt went home to be with Jesus September 3, 2026, at St. Vincent Medical Center in Little Rock at the age of 56.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Older Lee Bennett; paternal grandmother, Minnie Rose Ellen Bennett; maternal grandfather, Ray Cates; maternal grandmother, Maxine McGough Cates; maternal aunts, Pat Harris and Debbie Cates; and paternal aunts, Shirley Cain and Paulette Ring.

Survivors include his wife and best friend, Lyn Bennett; daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters, Samantha, Austin, Averie, and Alivia Maroney, all of Sheridan. He is also survived by numerous other extended family members and countless friends whom he considered family.

A celebration of Matt’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Sheridan, with Bro. James Lybrand, Bro. Michael Walton, and Bro. Shawn Hill officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation is Tuesday, 5:00-8:00 P.M., at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Austin Maroney, Steve Barrett, Stephen Poe, Jake Pickens, John Gatlin, Brian Parker, Willie Mann, and Danny Clark.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Mason Pickens, Chase Barrett, Ralph Pickens, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.