PRINCETON — Alex Marion Mays, 94, of Athens Road, Princeton, died Sunday, November 22, 2009, at Princeton Community Hospital. Born October 29, 1915 in Bluefield, he was the son of the late Dallas P. Mays and Callie D. George Mays. After attending Athens schools and Concord College he joined the U.S. Navy where he served from 1935-1939 aboard the USS Arkansas. He then worked in the Charleston, S.C. Naval Yard as Ordinance Mechanic, First Class. In 1945 he graduated from U.S. Maritime Commission Officer's School in Alameda, Calif., and attended Ocean Navigation School in San Pedro, Calif. He then served as 2nd Officer in the U.S. Merchant Marines from 1945-1949. Upon returning to Mercer County, he owned and operated Mays Motors in Bluefield for 40 years until his retirement. He was a member of the National Rifle Association 2nd Amendment Foundation, and a life-member of the Triangle Sportsman's Club. He was a life-member of the V.F.W. and former member of Master Mates and Pilots of America. He was a devoted member of Mt. Jackson Regular Baptist Church in Athens. His generous and kind-hearted nature was an inspiration to everyone he met. He will be remembered by his family as the perfect example of a Christian saint. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Virginia Ward Mays; one sister, Sallie C. Mays Warren; and two brothers, Dallas Pearson Mays, Jr., and James Putnam Mays.
He is survived by five children, Linda Gail Wohleber and her husband James of Homerville, Ohio, Blair Mays of Princeton, Cheryl Mays of Bramwell, Barbara “Bear” Nickum and her husband Danny Borgis of Sinking Creek, Va., and Diane Mays Landy and her husband Joseph of Virginia Beach, Va.; five grandchildren, Terry Borroni, Shawn Copen, Blake Hixon, James Hixon, and Alexia Everett; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 28, 2009, at Mt. Jackson Regular Baptist Church in Athens with Pastor Gene Harmon and Pastor Charlie Rice officiating. Burial will follow in the Austin Cemetery on Browns Ridge in Lerona. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Mercer County Veterans Council and the WV National Guard Honor Guard. Friends may call from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday at Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.seaverfuneralservice.com. The Mays family is being served by Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton.
