Carl "Perk" Perkins Mays, 80, of the Spring Garden community, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Born November 26, 1941, in Pittsylvania County, VA, Perk was the son of the late Charles Perkins Mays and Gladys Newburn Mays.
Perk was married for more than 56 years to Lynda Elaine Hart Mays, who predeceased him in August 2021. She was the love of his life,and he was hers. He is survived by their two daughters, Lisa Mays Anderson (Jon), of Midlothian, VA, and Tracy Rene' Mays (Jim Martin) of Danville, VA. He also leaves behind his grandson, Jackson Hammer Meadows, and step grandson, Nicholas "Jack" Anderson, both of Midlothian, VA.
Shockoe Baptist, in Chatham, VA, was Perk's church home for more than 50 years. He formerly served as a Deacon, enjoyed working in the nursery, helping Lynda with her Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School, and was affectionately known by the many children there (as well some adults) as the "Candy Man", who always had treats in his pockets after Sunday morning services. As a young man, he fell in love with the game of baseball, playing through his young adulthood and later enjoying watching and talking about the game with his grandsons. He was an avid New York Yankees baseball and Duke basketball fan, rarely missing a game on TV. He loved the outdoors and in his younger days could often be heard whistling by local ponds while fishing, a favorite pastime, or while driving his pick-up truck on rural country roads. Some have said that you could hear him from a mile away. Most of all, Perk enjoyed spending time with his family more than anything else.
He spent his entire career in agriculture, working for Smith Douglas/Lebanon Chemical Company in Danville, VA, as a Plant Supervisor for 27 years. Upon leaving Lebanon he enjoyed tobacco farming until fully retiring to care for his wife until her passing. He was her loyal, constant, and ever-faithful caretaker.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by brothers Charles "CW" Mays, Ted "Billy" Mays, and Harvey Mays, and sisters Virginia Fay Mays, Betty Jean Yeatts, Joyce East and Dale Farmer. He is survived by sisters Ellen Brumfield, Fannie Ragsdale, and Sarah Farson, and a brother, Jackie Mays.
His daughters would like to express their deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and therapists at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital's 6 Mountain and 12 West units for their skilled and compassionate care during their father's recent illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Shockoe Baptist Church, 516 Spring Garden Rd., Chatham, VA or to Blairs Fire and Rescue, 7100 US-29, Blairs, VA.
The family will receive friends for visitation from 4:30-6:00pm on Sunday, May 8, at Norris Chatham Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Monday, May 9, 2022, at Norris Chatham Chapel with interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, in Chatham, VA.