Martha Frances Mays

Frances was born May 19, 1931, at home in the Cat Creek community in Lowndes County GA, to Thomas E. and Annie Bell Futch Stalvey.  She grew up on the family farm in Cook County and was an honor graduate of Sparks-Adel High School, class of 1948.  She married Harvey Mays, USAF, from Havre, MT, November 3, 1951, who survives her.  She is also survived by her two sons and her two daughters-in-love, Roger & Carolyn, Hahira, GA, and Doug & Susan, Athens, GA. Her memory is further cherished by her grandchildren and their families: Laura, Donnie, Korie & Colin Smith, Valdosta, GA, Thomas, Amanda, Eason, Caroline & Carleigh Mays, Blackshear, GA, John, Charlotte, Lily, Amelia & Miriam Mays of Macon, and Matthew, Katherine & Bethany Mays of Decatur, GA.  She was preceded by her parents; three siblings and their spouses, Gene & Dorothy Stalvey, Betty & Earl Hambrick, and Jackie & David Bayless; and two nephews, John Hambrick, and James Stalvey. She is also survived by her sister, Peggy Folsom; her brother and sister-in-law, Tommy & Nan Stalvey, and eleven nieces, nephews, and their families.

Frances was a devout Christian, and an active member of the Bemiss United Methodist Church for 56 years, where she served her Lord and His people joyfully.  Her working career included two years’ secretarial service at the Georgia Sheriffs’ Boys’ Ranch at Hahira, where she learned to shoot pool on her lunch breaks, 22 years in the Valdosta office of the Social Security Administration, and 7 years as an insurance agent, working with Harvey in his business, until their mutual retirement in 1997. During her Social Security career, at age 48 she earned a B.B.A. from Valdosta State College through the Upward Mobility program, attending classes part-time for 7 years. She was a woman who lived with integrity and gratitude, and accordingly, the family express our deepest gratitude to the compassionate and caring staff of Regency Southern Care Hospice, and to the wonderful and dedicated staff of Fellowship Home at Brookside for the care rendered to Frances in these last months. 

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Bemiss United Methodist Church in Valdosta with Rev. Larry Hauser, and Dr. Richard Mitchell officiating., The family will be receiving friends an hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Cat Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please. consider donations be made to St Jude Childrens’ Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse, or any other Christian charity of your choice  

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