Melvin Lester Mays, 87, of Phil Campbell passed away Friday, October 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. The funeral service will be Sunday, October 14, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., at Pinkard Funeral Home Chapel, Russellville, with burial in Mt. View Cemetery. Officiating will be Bro. Sammy Taylor. The family received friends at the funeral home Saturday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. 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 will be Billy Hurst, Danny Peppers, Randy Ergle, Dennis Davis, Bobby Davis, and Thomas James.
