Calvin Mays

Obituary: Calvin "Cabba" Mays , Sr. was born June 16, 1926 in Orangeburg, South Carolina to the late Sam and Flossie Fredrick Mays. He was blessed to have five brothers, five sisters and two step-siblings. He attended the public school system in Orangeburg, SC and Denmark Technical College in Denmark, SC. Calvin was employed at Fort Jackson, as a Master Meat-Cutter until he was medically retired in 1968. Prior to his employment at Fort Jackson, Calvin was a skilled in woodworking, railroad construction, the building of the exiting VA Hospital in Columbia, SC and an employee of the Charleston Ship Yard. He was later drafted into the Army on February 26, 1946 as a Military Policeman. Calvin was married to the late Isabelle Jackson Mays for 61 years and was bless with nine children (five boys and four girls). He was a family and community-oriented person. For a significant period of time, he would go to the State Farmer Market and use his charisma to convince the merchants to give him more food than he paid for. Not only did this provided food for his family, it was also shared with the families in the community. Calvin became a member of Progressive Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ according to Acts 2:38 and received the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4. In earlier years of his membership, he was a member of the Usherboard, and the Brotherhood Department. Brother Mays loved the Lord, He stood for the truth of God's Word and was a Faith full member throughout his life. Calvin was preceded in death by his devoted and loving wife Isabelle Jackson Mays, one son Calvin Mays Jr. and eight brothers and sisters. He leaves to celebrate his life four sons, Simon (Brenda) Jackson, Columbia, SC, David (Frances) Mays, Robert (Cynthia) Mays, Hopkins, SC, Alonzo (Sherrie) Mays, Holly Hill, SC; six daughters, Dorthy Mays, Hopkins, SC, Annie B. (Harold) Dreher, Irmo, SC, Audrey (Kenneth) Fields, Lithonia, GA, Patricia (Stephon) Williams, Hopkins, SC, Terry James, Harrisburg, CT, Brenda James, Harrisburg, CT; one Daughter-in-law Betty Mays, Hopkins, SC; one brother-Lester Mays, Lawton, OK; one sister Birdell Stroman, Orangeburg, SC; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and other loving relatives and friends. Services: Funeral Service for Mr. Calvin "Cabba" Mays, Sr. will be held 1:00 pm Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Progressive Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Interment will follow in the Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Mays will be placed in the church one hour prior for public viewing. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 3 to 8 pm at the JP Holley Funeral Home Columbia Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Calvin Mays, please visit our floral store.