Mary L. Mays

Mrs. Mary L. MAYS died Saturday at 12:34 p.m. at the home of her son 
W. R. MAYS, in this city.  Mrs. MAYS was one of the oldest and most 
highly respected women of Jefferson County and was in her ninety-fifth 
year at the time of her death.  Nowithstanding her extreme age, she 
retained the use of her ______ and physical faculties in a remarkable 
degree until death.  Up to three years ago she kept house for her son, 
W. R. MAYS, doing all the work, but in the last three years she has 
not worked much, but until stricken by the sickness which resulted in 
death she was able to wait on herself and to go about the house.  Death 
was due primarily to stomach trouble.

Mrs. MAYS name before her marriage was HARTLEY and she was born in 
North Carolina, October 22, 1815.  She was ninety-four years old.  
When quite young she married James MAYS in North Carolina and about 
the year 1853 they came to Illinois.  Her husband enlisted in the Civil 
War and after a period of active service started home on sick leave but 
died on the way and the body was forwarded here for burial.

Mrs. MAYS was a devout member of the M. E. Church, South, and had been 
since early childhood.  When she and her husband arrived in Jefferson 
County they settled in the Little Grove neighborhood.  Their home and 
as long as Mrs. MAYS remained on the farm was the stopping place for 
all the ministers of her denomination and they always received a warm 
welcome, and generous hospitality.  She was ever loyal to her church 
and no sacrifice was too great for her where it's interests were involved.  
She was a remarkable woman in many respects and those who knew her best 
had most reason to realize this fact.  Her influence was always for right, 
truth and justice.

She was the mother of seven children, six of whom are living.  John MAYS, 
one of her sons, died some years ago.  The surviving children are Mrs. 
Robert FULLER, Jackson County, Ill., Mrs. James PHILLIPS and Green MAYS 
(twins), Robert MAYS, Mrs. Wm. HUMPHREY, and William R. MAYS.  She had 
twelve great-grandchildren and many other relatives.  Mrs. Mays was  one 
of the oldest women in the county.




Source: Mt. Vernon Daily Register
Date: Monday, March 3, 1919
Submitted by: Mary Zinzilieta