Samuel Howard Mays

January 9, 1939 - October 18, 2019

Samuel Howard Mays, 80, passed away on Friday, October 18, 2019, at Salem VA Hospital. A 2:00 p.m. funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at Ayersville Baptist Church with Rev. Doug Byrd officiating. Burial will follow at Delta United Methodist Church with Military Honors provided by the Rockingham County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends on Monday night, October 21, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Ray Funeral Home. A Stokes County native, Sammy was born on January 9, 1939, to the late Howard and Ruby Carter Mays. He was a member of Ayersville Baptist Church where he was very active in helping. He proudly served his country becoming a Sgt. in the US Army. Sammy retired from his own business, Mays Distributing. He was currently employed at Ray Funeral Home where he will truly be missed. Sammy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved his family, Wake Forest football, and enjoyed playing golf. Sammy is survived by his loving wife, Gladys Vaden Mays of the home; his daughters, Paige Mays Cardwell of Sandy Ridge and Penny Mays of Axton, VA; his sisters, Diane Sizemore of Madison, Thelma Wilson of Sandy Ridge, Pat Sparks (Ray) of Madison, Vivian Hutson of Walnut Cove, and Frankie Gyourko of Kitty Hawk; four grandchildren, Travis Mays (Jaime) of Sandy Ridge, Dylan Cardwell of Sandy Ridge, Tyrell Settle (Julianne) of Danville, VA, and Bree Settle of Dry Fork, VA; six great grandchildren, Jordan Mays, Kaitlyn Mays, Sydney Mays, Maddison Settle, Abigail Crihfield, and Noah Crihfield; and many nieces and nephews. Ray Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Samuel Mays and all are invited to share memories or offer condolences at www.rayfuneralhome.com