Rev. Joseph R. May Sr. : Obituary

The Rev. Joseph R. May Sr., age 87, passed away June 29, 2016 at home in Epworth, Georgia due to health issues related to aging. Joe was born July 9, 1928 in Tampa, FL to the late Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Basil May of Bedford, PA. He attended Toccoa Falls Institute and Bridgewater College. He was a US Army veteran serving in Alaska and the Pentagon during WWII. He played the trumpet, including an assignment with the Army Band. He was a pastor in the Church of the Brethren for over 40 years, serving churches in FL, VA, IA, TN and GA. In his early career, he managed WAYR, a Christian radio station in Jacksonville, FL. He was also a builder, stone mason and bricklayer. Asked to fill the pulpit locally in the United Methodist Church, he served over 15 years in Fannin County churches, Bethel and Liberty UMC. He is remembered for his stories, and in community services contributing prayers and newspaper articles that were well received. A quiet, humble, thoughtful man, he liked to end sermons and articles with the words: “Think about it.” His legacy is found in the way he lived his life.

Rev. May was preceded in death by a son, Joseph R. May, Jr., who died in infancy, June 7, 1951.

Survivors include his wife, Eunice Price May; three daughters, Deborah Strawn, Nancy Matunde, and Janice May; six grandchildren, Joshua and Jessica Strawn, Shannon and Shawn Wheeler, Silhouette Jarmon-Gigettes, and A. Joseph May-Gillis; and eight great-grandchildren, Elia Grey Strawn, Jamari Patterson, Michael Jarmon-Gigetts, Camron Williams, Isabelle, Alexandra, Christopher and Jaxson May.

Funeral services (closed casket): Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Henry- Cochran Funeral Home Chapel of Blue Ridge, with words by lifetime friend The Rev. Jennings Neeld, and full military rites by local Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 10:30 am.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Henry-Cochran Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com