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
Gray named president of Red Bay, Helen Keller hospitals
Main, News, Red Bay
By Brady Petree For the FCT 
July 15, 2026
SHEFFIELD — Red Bay hospital will soon be under new leadership as Jeremy Gray, who has been hired as the new president of the Franklin County facility...
5 properties are designated nuisance
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Five properties within the city have been designated public nuisances, and city workers soon will begin tearing down a burnedout partia...
Condemned downtown building to be demolished, replaced
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 15, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — The condemned building that used to house the Faith Mission Outreach will be demolished and a new structure rebuilt in its place. In an...
Jones says he’ll listen to Alabamians
Main, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 15, 2026
SHEFFIELD — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones shared a vision July 9 of an Alabama government who listens to its constituents and focuses ...
Stage being renovated for W.C. Handy Fest
News
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
July 15, 2026
SHEFFIELD — Stage renovations at Riverfront Park face a fast-approaching completion deadline prior to the W.C. Handy Music Festival. With “Riverside J...
A $174M penalty families can’t afford
Columnists, News, Opinion
July 15, 2026
Recently, the federal government published “scores” that will determine how much each state will have to pay toward its SNAP program starting in 2027....
Friendships more precious as years pass
Columnists, Features, Lifestyles, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 15, 2026
Friends are wonderful gifts. Throughout different stages of life, friends serve as anchors, confidants and sources of strength. While many people come...
Sparks is youngest miracle worker yet
News
By Addi Broadfoots For the FCT 
July 15, 2026
For 65 years, audiences have watched the story of Helen Keller come to life on the outdoor stage behind Ivy Green in Tuscumbia. This summer, that trad...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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