Deacon James Mays

Deacon James Louis “Billy” Mays, 90, of Greenville, South Carolina, peacefully departed this life on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at Anmed Health System, Anderson, South Carolina. He was a son of the late David Louis Mays and Alberta Rosemond Mays.

A gentle giant, very soft spoken, “Billy”, as he was affectionately called, was educated in the Greenville County School System. He was a veteran of the United States Army and a truck driver for fifty-two years for J.D. Hollingsworth Company. He joined the St. Matthew Baptist Church at a very early age, where he served faithfully until his health declined.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Iola Sullivan Mays; a daughter, Patricia Ann Mays Andrews; and two brothers, Mr. John Leonard Mayes and Charles Calvin Mayes.

Left to treasure fond memoires are his two brothers, Thomas B. Mayes, Sr., of Greenville, SC and Ted E. (Azalee) Mayes of Fountain Inn, SC; one grandson, James C. Harris of Greenville, SC; four great-grandchildren, Courtney, James Jr., Khalana and Khalani and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.