Copy in the possession of Marie Smith May
Submitted by William May and Patricia May Touw
William Walker May, Sr., died October 8, 1983, in Columbia, South Carolina,
after two years of experimental treatment for colon cancer. His wife Marie
was at his side. An Episcopal graveside service will be conducted Monday
afternoon, October 10, at 2 P.M. in Maplewood Cemetery, Pulaski, Tennessee.
Visitation is Monday morning, October 10, at Bennett-May Funeral Home and at
other times, at the home of Mrs. Thurman Smith, 447 Highland Street, Pulaski.
Mr. May was born in Aspen Hill, Tennessee, on October 6, 1908, son of Dr.
Julius Pinckney May and Desdemona Walker May. His grandparents were Julius
and Susanna Abernathy May and the Rev. John Floyd and Emelia Brown Walker.
After the death of Dr. May in 1920, the family moved to Pulaski, Tennessee,
and Mr. May graduated from Central High School where his mother, "Miss
Dezzie," was a teacher. He worked for Proctor and Gamble in Chicago, Il
linois, before attending Cumberland University. Mr. May clerked in the
Pulaski law office of Deck Jones in preparation for admittance to the
Tennessee Bar in 1933.
In 1936, Mr. May married Marie Smith and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where
he was employed by the state highway department. He supervised building a
number of the first paved roads throughout Alabama and was a member of the
American Society for Civil Engineers. During World War II, he taught
engineering students for the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn) in
addition to his civil engineering duties.
Following the war, Mr. May became one of the founders of Vulcan Life
Insurance Company of Birmingham, Alabama, where he served on the Board of
Directors as Treasurer and Chief Underwriter. He continued his involvement
with the insurance industry as Vice President of North American Reassurance
Company, relocating to Dallas, Texas, in 1956.
In retirement, Mr. and Mrs. May moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he
served as an insurance consultant and real estate broker.
Mr. May was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and Past Master of
Blue Lodge in Alabama. His three half brothers, Elmo May, Roy May, and Julius
May, also were 32nd degree Masons.
Mr. May is survived by his wife Marie; his son William Walker May, Jr., and
daughter-in-law Nan Frank May of Coburg, Oregon; his daughter Patricia Marie
May Touw and son-in-law Kenneth B. Touw of Buffalo, New York; and five
grandchildren: Christine Marie May, Kathleen Julia May, Anduin Elaine Touw,
Katherine Lenore Touw, and Adam Walker Touw. [A sixth grandchild, Jessica
Rose May, was born the month he died.]
Memorials may be sent to local Hospice divisions.
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