George Parker May

George Parker May, 102 of Phenix City, AL, passed away on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Gentiva Hospice surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm EST, on Monday, July 11, 2016 at Lakewood Baptist Church, Phenix City, AL, with Rev. M.R. Hamilton, Dr. Jerry Horner and Rev. Charles Keown officiating.

Pallbearers will be Richard Aderhold, Homer Gray, Terry Grimes, Martin Kinzalow, Ben Martin, Jeff Maxwell, Christopher May and Thomas May. Honorary pallbearers will be all deacons from Lakewood Baptist Church; both active and inactive. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon from 3:00 until 5:00pm EST at Vance Memorial Chapel.

Mr. May was born September 20, 1913 in Dixie, AL to the late James Benton May and Lina Belle Dudley May. Parker’s earliest memory was at age 5, sitting on the front porch as his father read the headline of The Columbus Ledger “WORLD WAR ENDS!” At age 14 he told of traveling to Columbus with the horses and blindfolding them to cross the bridge to keep them from seeing the river below. He graduated from Dixie High School in 1934 as class valedictorian. The class started with 13 people, but only 3 remained at graduation. Parker attended Columbus Business College for 2 years before working at the Columbus Iron Works. After just a few years he returned home to help his father run the farm.

In June of 1954 Parker went on his first date with his soon to be bride, Olean Galloway. They were married in September of 1954 and had their first son in 1957. Soon after it was time to move to the city. He started with The Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (A&P) in 1958 as the produce manager and his second son soon followed in 1959. After retiring, Parker enjoyed gardening and cooking. He loved using his mother’s hand-me-down recipes and on most holidays made his grandma’s 1898 Old Fashioned Chicken Salad.

Mr. May was a member of Crawford Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and Lakewood Baptist Church (formerly Westside) where he was still a member. He taught Sunday School for over 70 years and served as a deacon at all of the churches.

Other than his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Olean Galloway May; brothers, James Madison May, Dave Anderson May, Benton Cooke May, William Cary May and a baby sister.

He is survived by his sons, George Parker May, Jr and wife Konstance, Charles Anderson May and wife Judy; grandchildren, Christopher George May and wife Elizabeth, Thomas Bryan May and wife Sarah, Jeremy Scott May and wife Stacey, Ashley Suzanne May and Amy Elizabeth May; great-grandchildren, David May, Caleb May, Abigail May, Julia May and Aiden May; nephews, James Madison May, Jr. and Walter Frank May; niece, Billie Ann Williams; extended family members and many caring friends.

A special thank you to Phenix City Health Care for their compassion and care for the past five years; the staff at St. Francis Hospital and Gentiva Hospice for caring for him in his final days.

Online condolences may be made at www.vancememorialchapel.net.