Bro. Calvin May

Life Epitome

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven.  A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which was planted.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

On Monday morning October 19, 2020 at 6:00 am, at Sweet Home Quality Care Adult Family Home, the soul of Brother Calvin May made its transition from his earthly tabernacle to  a new home in his Father’s Kingdom.

Calvin was the third of ten children born to the union of the late Salone May, I, and Maude Washington-May, on May 5, 1937 in Delhi, Louisiana.  Under his mother’s guidance, he attended Sunday School and later accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at the New Fellowship Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. N. B. McCall.

He was educated in the Richland Parish School System, graduating from Ester Toombs High School, a State-Approved Negro High School of Louisiana, on May 22, 1957.

He made Seattle his home in 1957 when he came to live with his older brother Salone, II, and his wife Melzina.

His working career began in 1957 shortly after locating to Seattle when he became employed as a pipefitter at Puget Sound Tug and Barge Shipyard, which later became Lockheed Shipyard.  In 1965, during the Vietnam War, he joined the United States Merchant Marines carrying ammunition for the war.

Because of the danger, he decided he no longer wanted to sail.  Within a few months he was re-employed at the Lockheed Shipyard until the mid-1970’s.

In 1968 Calvin met Ora Lee McCraney.  They were married on June 14, 1969.  Together they raised three sons: Calvin Burton, Averill Dwayne, and James Alvin.

On August 24, 1970, Calvin became employed at Harborview Medical Center, in the Maintenance Department, as a plumber, steamfitter, pipefitter;  he was the first black employed in that department.  He remained at Harborview until his retirement in August of 1998.  After retirement he served as a volunteer driver for Seattle Senior Services

In 1989,  Calvin united with the Beacon Hill First Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Robert Houston.  While attending Beacon Hill he served on the Deacon Ministry, attended Sunday School, and sang in the Male Chorus.  He later enrolled in the United Theological Seminary and Bible College, headquartered in Monroe, LA, receiving a Diploma in Christian Education.

Calvin later moved his church membership to Dunlap Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor James Burnett.  In 2018 he united again with the Beacon Hill First Baptist under the leadership of his son, Pastor Calvin B. May and attended as his health would allow.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Salone and Maude May; sister Wendell May-Pritchett; brothers; Burnell May, Salone May II, and Herman May; sister-in-law, Melzina May; father-in-law, Charles McCraney, Sr., brother-in-law’s, Calvin Watts, and  Charles McCraney, Jr.

Today, he leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Ora Lee May; their three sons, Pastor  Calvin B. (Cassaundra); A. Dwayne (Sharon) & James A. (Rachel); Mother-In-Law, Katherine McCraney, Seattle, WA.;  three sisters, Ora Lee Jones of Monroe, LA; Barbara Watts, and Theodoshia Smith (James), both of Seattle, WA; two brothers, Cleophus May (Verda) and Fred May of Delhi, La; five sisters-in-law; Margurite Winston, Ann Houston (Charles), Shirley McCraney, Fertis Houze, and Leatrice Newbill (Chris), all of Seattle, Washington;  seven brothers-in-law; Pastor Mack H. McCraney, Esq., Rev. Alton L. McCraney, and Leslie J. McCraney, all of Hammond, LA, William G. McCraney (Barbara) of Sierra Vista, AZ.; Moses Taylor, Carl R. Taylor and Curtis McCraney, all of Seattle, WA; ten grandchildren; Curtis, Frantilsha, Candice, Charlisa, Darius Sr., Dwaysha, India, Crystal, Mychal, & Donovan; four great-grandchildren; Darius Jr., Devon, Calvin Timothy, and Daniel; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and one very close friend Mr. Prentice Henry. 

Although you are out of our view, your memory will forever be in our hearts.

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