Mrs. Bessie Ruth Mays

MAYS, Mrs. Bessie Ruth - Age 87 passed away Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Kith Haven. Family hour 10:00 AM Monday, October 9, 2023, at Southeast Christian Church, 4171 Lapeer Rd, with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Monday. Mrs. Mays will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Sunday. Mother Bessie Ruth Mays was born in Bossier City, Louisiana, on March 22, 1936. On September 30th, 2023, she transitioned from this life to rest in the arms of Jesus. Her family will remember her as a woman who loved cooking. To her family, holiday meals were a manifestation of love. Her love for cooking was extended to the community and even to the church. Mother Mays valued hard work; she was one of the first black women to move her family from a place of struggle to a home in a predominately white neighborhood. This translated to a better school district, a better way of life, and greater resources. As a homeowner for the first time, she often worked three jobs. Maintaining several streams of revenue became an intermittent pattern throughout her life. Ironically, cooking was an integral part of this pattern. Whether selling chicken dinners to her co-workers or opening a candy store in the back of her daughter’s home; she was an industrious woman. Known to many as “Miss Bessie, Mama, and Mother Mays,” she served in both the Eliezer Church and Refuge Temple Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ for a combined total of 45 years. In the world of work, punctuality was her trademark. Mother Mays worked for Chevrolet Truck and Bus, a division of General Motors Corporation, holding many job titles in her 21 years of service, including line inspector. She was a member of UAW #598. Mother Bessie Ruth Mays leaves to cherish her memory: her brother, Lewis (Lois). Bell, Jr.; daughters, Jacquelyn (Huda) Townsend, Wonda Bearyman, and Jasmine Myles; honorary daughters, Deb Odom, NaRotha Ogden, Janice Jones, and Nancy Voilette; grandchildren, Kim Armstrong, Rendell (Unika) Odom, Roderick (Mandi) Odom, LaTasha Wilson, Alicia Bearyman, Adam (Cymone ) Bearyman, Leslie Price, Shakera (Osai) Robinson, Angielic Reed, Sarai McDonald, MarQues Ogden-Colston, Timothy House, and Timothy Harris, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Deonica Jackson, Alaysia Gatewood, Le’Asiah Odom, Dwanye R.L. Odom, Kaeli Stocker, La'Aundra Reign Archie, Teriyonna Armstrong, Kevin Jr. and Kameron Nash, Andre Armstrong, Cheyanne Bearyman, Karsyn Bearyman, Kyrah Bearyman, Adam Bearyman Jr., Aubree Bearyman, Zuri Robinson, Osai Robinson Jr., Lailah Reed and Aubryelle Wilson; great-great-grandchildren, Rylee Martin and Joh’Kae Hanson; a host of nieces including special niece, Candace Myles, a host of nephews; a host of cousins including special cousins, Gloria (Bobby) Jean Davis; Bobby Wong; John, Farron, and Stacey Hall; and Gordon (Linda) Hamilton; a host of other relatives and friends. Mother Mays was preceded in death by her husband, Dudley Mays, and husband Wallace Myles; her parents, Lewis “L.C” and Lillie Bell; her sisters, Lula Bell Daniel, Christine Bell Maxie; and Mary Ann Bell Hall. Her children, Gordon Myles and Terri (Kevin) Armstrong; grandson, Andre’ Myles; and granddaughter, Tiffany Myles. The family would like to thank Mother Mays’ Primary Care Physician for more than 40 years, Dr. S. Vermuri.

Mrs. Bessie Ruth Mays

March 22, 1936 - September 30, 2023