LaFayne May

HINESVILLE -- LaFayne Hodges May, 95, died November 15, 2025, at Bryan County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond Hill.
She was born in the Gum Branch Community of Liberty County to Ross and Mattie Wells Hodges on July 2, 1930. She grew up in the Rye Patch Community of Long County before marrying the love of her life, Wyman, and moving to Hinesville in 1950. She and Wyman made Hinesville their home for the remainder of their lives.
LaFayne graduated from Ludowici High School in 1947. She then attended Georgia State College for Women (now Georgia College), where she earned a BS degree in elementary education. She later earned an advanced degree in educational administration and supervision from Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University).
LaFayne's career as an educator spanned 48 years - 24 years in the classroom as a teacher, followed by 24 years as a principal.
She received many honors and awards throughout her career. Among the most notable were the 1990 Georgia Elementary Principal of the Year, the 1990 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the Georgia Board of Education, the 1992 Liberty County Board of Education's Award of Distinction for Superior Achievement and Excellence of Performance, the 1995 Alumni Achievement Award from Georgia College and the 1999 First District of Georgia Distinguished Educator Award.
Perhaps the most distinguished honor came in 1993 when U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley recognized her at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., as a National Distinguished Principal. During that visit, she spoke on the topic of education at a reception held in the Diplomatic Suite of the U.S. State Department.
LaFayne's devotion to education extended beyond the classroom. She served on the Georgia Statewide Textbook Committee, the First District Regional Educational Service Agency and the Georgia Department of Education Ad Hoc Committee that developed the process for setting statewide public school standards. She also served as chairperson of the Membership Committee of the Georgia Elementary Principals Association and chairperson of the Liberty County Library Board.
Additionally, she was a member of the Live Oak Public Libraries Board. She was also a proud member of the Beta Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional and honorary society for women educators.
First and foremost, LaFayne loved children and watching and helping them learn. Of all the honors she received, nothing made her happier than seeing a child's face light up when that child finally understood something new. Even years later, she never tired of having adults call out her name to tell her she had been their teacher or principal and to share what they were now doing with their lives. She took great delight in the success stories of her former students.
Her love of children was rivaled only by her love of family and friends and surpassed only by her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her personal relationship with Christ sustained and strengthened her throughout her life.
She became a member of Hinesville First Baptist Church in 1953 and remained active as long as she was physically able. Over the years, she held many positions at First Baptist, including chairperson of the Finance/Budget Committee, Vacation Bible School director, Sunday school director and church treasurer. She also taught the Wisdom Seekers Adult Sunday School Class for many years.
LaFayne was a fierce competitor. She played in the ladies' softball league for many years. Wyman loved to recount how she once turned an unassisted triple play (and insisted there were witnesses). She bowled in the church league well into her 80s and took particular joy in one team name, the Holy Rollers.
She was an avid Atlanta Braves fan and rarely missed a game on television, even during the lean years or when the team played in late-night West Coast games. We were all thrilled when the Braves won the World Series in 2021 so LaFayne and Wyman could celebrate one last championship together.
LaFayne was predeceased by her parents, Ross and Mattie Wells Hodges; her sister, Fay Hodges Tatum; her brothers, Johnny Hodges and Delmas Hodges; and her beloved husband, Wyman May, to whom she was married for 74 wonderful years until his passing in 2024.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews, along with their spouses and children.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Carter Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in the chapel of Carter Funeral Home. Burial will immediately follow in the Hinesville Cemetery.

Coastal Courier
(Hinesville, Ga.)
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
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