Rev. William Francis Mayo - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 7/8/2009

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Rev. William Francis Mayo - Madison Parish, Louisiana

From Shreveport Times, July 6, 2009

William Francis Mayo, Jr. October 7, 1918 - July 4, 2009

SHREVEPORT, LA - Rev. William Francis Mayo passed away on July 4, 2009 at Willis-Knighton Pierremont in Shreveport, Louisiana. Visitation will be held at Osborn Funeral Home Monday, July 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. A private graveside service at Forest Park West will be held the morning of Tuesday, July 7. A memorial service and celebration of Rev. Bill Mayo's life will follow at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 500 Common Street at the head of Texas Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating will be Dr. Pat Day, Rev. Wishy Nolan and Rev. Carl Rhodes.

William Francis Mayo, Jr. was born October 7, 1918 in Jackson, Mississippi. His parents were William Francis Mayo, Sr. and Pha Lucile Drake Mayo. Following her death, he was raised by his father and Lucille Brigance Mayo. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn Underwood Mayo, his parents and siblings Jack and Marvin Mayo. He is survived by daughters Frances Mayo Sistrunk of Salisbury, Maryland, Susan Mayo Cooper and Patrick Brooks Cooper of New Orleans, Louisiana and Carolyn Ann Mayo of Houston, Texas. Grandchildren include William Nathan Sistrunk of Belpre, Ohio, Jennifer Lynn Sistrunk of Fredricksburg, Virginia, Brooke Pickett and David Bruser of Toronto, Canada and Kelly Lane Pickett of New Orleans, Louisiana. Great-grandchildren include Cray, Danielle and Sara Sistrunk, all of Belpre, Ohio.

Bill Mayo grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and graduated from Neville High School in Monroe. He worked his way through Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He was called to the ministry in 1943 when he entered seminary at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Throughout his career as a pastor in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, he was known for not only nurturing congregations, but also for his keen organizational and business skills. His favorite book was easily the United Methodist Hymnal from which he loved to sing with his rich baritone voice. Rev. Mayo served in the following churches: First United Methodist Church of Baker, Trinity United Methodist Church of Alexandria, Tallulah United Methodist Church, Jennings United Methodist Church and Springhill United Methodist Church. There were three appointments in the New Orleans area, including Gentilly United Methodist Church, St. Matthews United Methodist Church and the Methodist Home Hospital. At retirement in 1986, he was the Alexandria District Superintendent. Upon moving to Shreveport, Rev. Mayo then worked for an additional 20 years at First United Methodist Church of Shreveport, primarily as a pastor of visitation. There he also was affectionately known as the "praying preacher" for his deeply resonating and traditional pastoral prayers. He will be remembered by family and friends for his droll sense of humor and his total trust in the benevolence of God.