Obituary of Mary Louise Mays

CAMDEN – Mary Louise Clyburn Mays, 81, peacefully entered her heavenly home on Saturday, April 16, 2022, with her family by her side. Born on August 19, 1940, in Camden, she was a daughter of the late Louis Singleton Clyburn, Sr. and Pauline Moseley Clyburn. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Camden.

    Mary Louise’s Christianity was an essential part of her life and she raised her children in a Christian home.  She opened her home to anyone who needed it.  She enjoyed vacationing, crafts, sewing clothes for her family, crocheting, and gardening.  She always included her family in everything she would do.  She loved collecting dolls and lighthouses. Her husband has a garden where he plants many things, including purple hull peas, which she loved, and cucumbers. She would use those cucumbers to make sweet pickles from her mother’s recipe.  Lovingly known as Mama Mays, she loved cardinals and would always say that it was a loved one visiting from heaven. Now when we see one, we know Mama Mays is visiting us.

   Mary Louise is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ken Mays; children, Stephen Mays (Debbie) of Rock Hill, David Mays (Lauranne) of Lexington, Mark Mays (Donna) of Conyers, GA, Doug Mays (Trina) of Charlotte, NC, and Allison McDonald (Tom) of Charlotte, NC; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Susan Moore, Louis Clyburn, Jr. (Sharon), Jimmy Clyburn (Linda), and Sandra Dickey.

A funeral service for Mary Louise will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home. The Rev. Phillip Gerrald will officiate.  The family will receive friends prior to the service from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.