James Mays

James Clovis Mays, 85, of Chillicothe, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. He was born August 2, 1931, in Birmingham, AL, to the late James Rufus and Emaline Mays. On December 1, 1979, he married Cecile Ann Courtney-Peavey. He is survived by Cecile and his children Michael (Mary) Mays, Judy (Earshal) Schul, all of Ohio, and Matthew Mays of Arizona; step-children Lana Stribley and Sophia (Daniel) Hargreaves, of Arizona, and Susanne Peavey, of Ohio; grandchildren: Jessica Sams, Crystal (Dustin) Ofsky, April Cline, Joshua (Rochelle), Aaron, Benjamin and Megan Stribley, Cassaundra (Louie) Duran, Timothy and Brittany Hargreaves, and Wesley Farmer; great-grandchildren: Treyton and Carter Sams, Alivia and Maxwell Cline, Lily and Ivy Ofsky, Matthew and Morja Stribley, Anthony Sagastizado; special Alabama family: cousins: D.L. (Pat) Howell, whom he loved like a brother, Enid Cobb, Jane Emerson, Lela Rae Shots. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ward Mays, a sister Verlyn (Ert) Stewart, and his aunt Deltagee Williams. Jim's passion for flying led to his first airplane, purchased at age 18, before he bought his first car. After serving in the US Airforce from 1951-1954, he received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Alabama in Mechanical Engineering. This was the beginning of his devoted Roll Tide pride. He led a successful career in Aerospace Engineering working in heat transfer design, which is still present today, with such companies as Pratt & Whitney, GE and Air Research. Once he retired, he became the Fire Commissioner and an EMT in Gisela, AZ. He also volunteered in the Oncology Department and the Chaplain's office at the Adena Regional Medical Center with Rev. Chuck Ramsey. His heart was devoted to his family and to his church. He served in many Southern Baptist Churches across the country and became an ordained deacon in 1961 at North Palm Beach Baptist Church in Florida. He fulfilled his greatest passion of teaching by leading Bible Study for over 40 years in Southern Baptist Churches. Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Chillicothe Baptist Church, with Rev. Tim Cline officiating. Military graveside services, conducted by the Ross Co. Veterans Honor Guard, will follow in Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call 1 hour prior to the funeral Sunday at the church. Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Foreign Missions Program, Chillicothe Baptist Church, 14000 S.R. 104, Chillicothe, OH 45601.
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