Clarence C. Mays Sr., 69, of Mt. Vernon died 3:10 am Nov. 6, 1995 at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt.Vernon.

He was retired from the utility service department of Illinois Power.

Mr. Mays was born April 13, 1926, in Centralia to Samuel Burris and Mildred Mays, April 24, 1949 in Mt. Vernon, he married Maggie Wilson.

Services will be at 11 am Saturday at Central Christian Church with the Revs. W.R. Lash, Oscar Elridge and Larry Griffin. Burial will be in Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens.

Full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion and its chaplain.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 pm Friday at the Pavey Chapel C.M.E. Church, where the Jefferson County Law Enforcement walk-through will be held at 7 pm, and after 9:30 am Saturday at Central Christian Church.

Mr. Mays is survived by his wife, Maggie and their children, Clarence (Janet) Mays and Rolland Mays of Mt. Vernon, Linda (Larry) Brown of St. Louis, Larry Mays and Joyce Mays-Wilson of Mt. Vernon; 24 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two brothers, Lloyd "Speedy" (Alice) Mays of Mt.Vernon and Wiley (Jeannie) Mays of Springfield; two sisters, Virginia Daniels and Muzette Duncan of Centralia; an uncle Nelson Banner of Mt. Vernon; and a number of nephews and nieces and cousins.

He was a member of the Pavey Chapel C. M. E. church where he served on the Trustee and Steward Boards. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was also a member of the Jefferson County N.A.A.C.P., past president of the Jefferson County Red Cross, past president of the Brehm Memorial Library Board, member of the Mt. Vernon Fire and Police Commission and the Mt. Vernon Zoning Board of Appeals.

He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, serving as Past Master of Forest Lodge 71 of Mt. Vernon, Hiram consistory 51 and Bagdad Temple 104, both of Cairo, where he served as Past Potentate. He was district deputy lecturer of 33rd Degree Masons W.M.P.H., Deputy District Grand Master. He was also a member of American Legion Post 141 of Mt. Vernon, V.F.W. Post 1376 of Mt. Vernon and a number of other civic organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Ruby Mays, and a brother, Sam Burris, Jr.

For those who wish memorials may be made to the Forest of Lebanon Lodge Building Fund, and sent to Boatmen's Bank in Mt. Vernon or left with the funeral Home.

Jackson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Source: Mount Vernon Register News
Date: Wednesday, November 8, 1995
Submitted by Kiowana Hayes Ferguson