James Simmie May

James May

Funeral services for Mr. James Simmie “Jim” May, Sr., will be held at 11 AM on Friday, February 17, 2017, at the Cascade United Methodist Church, 3144 Cascade Road, SW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30311. Interment will follow in Westview Cemetery, 1680 Ralph David Abernathy, SW, Atlanta.

Mr. May, was born as the second of eight children, to the late Clarence W. and Zelma Smith May, on June 29, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Being named after his grandfathers was a badge of honor for him. During his elementary years the family moved to Dublin, Georgia, and he continued his education in the Dublin City Schools.

He was Valedictorian of the Class of 1961 from Oconee High School. He was the Honor Graduate of the Army School of Administration in 1967—the only Black to graduate in that class—taking the highest honor. He won the Army Commendations Medal for Meritorious service while serving in Vietnam. He earned the rank of Spec 5-E5 in just 17 ½ months. He returned to college to complete his degree after he was discharged from the Army.

A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Mr. May finished in the top 10 percent of his class, and continued his studies to earn a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Atlanta University.

Education was his passion and he made it his career after college. He was a Math teacher at East Atlanta High School, Turner High School (Math Department Chair) and Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, Georgia. At Douglass, after being appointed Chair of the Mathematics department, he became an Administrator. Mr. May retired in 2008, after an inspiring 40-year career in the Atlanta Public School system. While teaching, he also worked the Homework Hotline for 18 years and for Morris Brown College Upward Bound program for 25 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brothers, Clarence W. May and Larry Ted May.

He leaves to uphold his legacy his children: James D. Jones, Carla Renée May (Girard) Geeter, James S. (Patricia) May, Jr., Jayne Howard (Ronnie) Zachary, and Jasmine May; a step-daughter, Dr. Marquita (Bryce) Winder, 12 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; siblings: Bobby Smith, Don (Cynthia) May, Sr., Cheryl May-Holmes, Dickey (Yvonne) May, Phil May, and Sharmen May (Donald) Gowens, a sister-in-law, Dr. Caroline Charles May; two aunts, Norma Smith and Irma Sanders, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Viewing will be on Thursday, February 16, 2017, 9AM–9PM, with a Wake, 6-7PM, at Murray Brothers Cascade Chapel, 1199 Utoy Springs Road, SW, Atlanta. Contact Murray Brothers at (404) 349-3000 for more information.

This obituary is provided as a courtesy of Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin.