William F "Bill" Mays was born on January 8, 1927 in Crystal City Texas to Frank and Tennie Mays and raised in Panola County in a community called Jumbo. Bill was a WWII Navy Veteran serving on the U.S.S. Cabot and U.S.S. Langley. After leaving the service he was living in Angleton Texas when he met his future bride, Virginia Brown, daughter of the late J.S. "Cap" Brown 1st Chief of Police for Lake Jackson. They were married on June 12, 1947. In 1951 he went to work for Dow Chemical in the paint department learning his trade as an industrial painter and at the time of his retirement in 1982 he had moved up to paint inspector. In the 31 years with Dow he was elected to serve as financial secretary and business manager for Local 1848 of the Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, he served on the executive board as he did with Freeport Metal Trades Council and Four-County Tidelands Central Labor Council. Other affiliations; Texas Painters Conference in the Legislative Committee, Gulf Coast Painters and Allied Trades Club. Because of his position within the union, Bill was on the Negotiating Board with Dow Chemicals representatives. He was involved in creating Brazosport College. Other outside activities included coaching Peewee and Little League teams. Some service as Chairman for the Lake Jackson Traffic Commission. Together Bill and Virginia were long-time workers in the Democratic Party starting with the election campaign of LBJ. September 1984 they were honored at the opening of the Southern Brazoria County Democratic Party Headquarters with a reception for their long-time service.

Bill was a follower of Christ and attended church faithfully along with volunteer work in different activities. He attended First United Methodist Church of Lake Jackson, served as a Deacon at Churchhill Baptist, and lastly Minden Baptist Church in North East Texas.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years Virginia on March 21, 1991.
Survivors include Linda Norrell (Roy), Richard Mays (Genene), and Mary Kelley.
Grandchildren Bryan Norrell (Jennifer), Allison Norrell, Michael and Christopher Hoffman, and eight great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to our longtime family friend, Lucky Boyd, for officiating the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in honor of Bill Mays to the address below or your favorite charity.
Minden Baptist Church
P.O. Box 665
Mt. Enterprise, TX 75681

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