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
Rural hospitals face challenges: New state tax credit could help
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County’s two hospitals face the same financial pressures confronting rural health care across Alabama even as they remain esse...
Phil Campbell gets ‘clean opinion’ on audit
Main, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Certified public accountant Don Wallace told town council members on Jan. 20 there were no problems with this year’s audit. “This is w...
MLK’s legacy: Blueprint we must follow
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Rev. Bennie “B.J.” Bonner stood before an audience gathered Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration March and described ho...
Elementary students begin Super Citizen program
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
Second and third graders from West Elementary and Russellville Elementary began Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen program during an event ki...
Book Lovers Study Club explores tea’s role in history
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
January 28, 2026
Our Book Lovers Study Club’s January meeting highlighted both the Boston Tea Party boycott of English tea and the traditions of afternoon tea. One of ...
Moving from excuses to action in 1 year
Columnists, Opinion
January 28, 2026
In just 12 months, the Trump administration has delivered real results that Americans can see in their daily lives by restoring law and order at our b...
Higgins hired as RHS football coach
High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Darrell Higgins has been hired as the new head football coach at Russellville High School. His hiring was announced Saturday following ...
Seal retires from CB&S after 31 years
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 28, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Following a 31-year career at CB&S Bank, Beverly Seal is now retired and looking forward to what comes next. While she’s still explorin...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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