Obituaries
 By  Staff Reports Published 
2:41 pm Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Melvin Lester Mays

Melvin Lester Mays

October 12, 2012

Melvin Lester Mays, 87, Phil Campbell passed away Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, at Shoals Hospital.

Mr. Mays was a lifelong resident of Franklin County and a member of Mt. View Baptist Church, Phil Campbell. He was a self-employed merchant and the owner of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Phil Campbell. He was also a WWII veteran of the U.S. army.

Funeral services were Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel, Russellville, with burial in Mt. View Cemetery. Officiating was Bro. Sammy Taylor.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Davis Mays; children, Lester Don Mays and wife, Barbara, Phil Campbell, Sharon Mays Hipp and husband, Ben, Hockley, Texas, David Keith Mays and wife, Debra, Spruce Pine; brother, Robert Mays and wife, Jeanette, Phil Campbell; sisters, Opal McMurry, Russellville, Virginia Parrish, Russellville; grandchildren, Todd Whirley and wife, Melody, Zachery Whirley and wife, Dawn, Amanda Hipp Fowler and husband, Tony, Jonathan Mays, Emily Mays, Amy Mays Knight and husband, Bret, Elizabeth Mays, Michael Mays and wife, Liz; fourteen great-grandchildren; special friend, Levi Hall (Little Man), Phil Campbell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred D. and Alma Cook Mays; and daughter, Wanda Davis Whirley and husband, Bob.

Pallbearers were Billy Hurst, Danny Peppers, Randy Ergle, Dennis Davis, Bobby Davis, and Thomas James.

Also on Franklin County Times
Mayor updates status of downtown buildings
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 3, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Mayor Greg Williams told councilmembers during their Nov. 18 meeting efforts are still ongoing to get a group of downtown buildings co...
HB 65 would benefit seniors
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 3, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Seniors in Franklin County could see longterm relief on rising property taxes under a proposed amendment to the Alabama Constitution th...
55-year tradition connects family
Main, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 3, 2025
SPRUCE PINE — Regina Jackson’s home has been the gathering place for her family for more than five decades. It’s where they’ve shared songs, games, an...
Dual enrollment students explore county’s history
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 3, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE — Students from Belgreen and Vina stepped out of their online history class and into Franklin County’s past this fall as part of a dual e...
Close the crypto loophole before it hurts rural areas
Columnists, Opinion
December 3, 2025
As the state representative for a largely rural district in Alabama, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside farmers, small business owners, and f...
Making room for meaningful moments
Columnists, Opinion
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
December 3, 2025
December arrives quickly, even when we think we are prepared for it. Lights go up, schedules fill, and daylight disappears earlier each afternoon. It ...
8 place in 2 divisions
Franklin County, Sports
December 3, 2025
Franklin County Anglers teams competed recently in a tournament that included both junior and senior divisions. In the Junior Division, Eli Boyd and T...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *