Linda Wood Mays

Linda Wood Mays, beloved sister, cousin, friend, and neighbor passed peacefully on February 13, 2023 surrounded by her family. A native of Virginia Beach, she was the daughter of the late James E. and Katherine W. Mays. She is survived by her sister, Kathy Mays Coleman (Sam) of Richmond, her brother James Robin Mays (Sybil) of Virginia Beach; and Cousins Dena and Michael Cowdy, and Kate Wade Cowdy, of Orwell and London, England, respectively.

She was a graduate of Princess Ann High School, Old Dominion University (B.A. Political Science) and the American University (M.A. Public Administration). From 1972-1981, she was employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as staff in the Office of the Cabinet Secretary for Human Resources and later as senior staff with the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, Department of Personnel and Training. In 1981, she moved to Philip Morris/USA and Altria where she served for 25 years as Manager of Leadership Development. Following her retirement in 2006, she taught leadership development seminars in the public and private sectors, especially enjoying those at colleges and universities around Virginia. She was a longtime supporter of Jewish Family Services of Richmond, serving on the organization’s Board of Directors from 2007-2016, and the School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC).

For the past two years, she received the invaluable and unceasing assistance of her friends, particularly lifelong friend JoAnn West, her incomparable neighbors, and her team of caregivers from Jewish Family Services. Her family offers profound appreciation to the entire team at JFS and most especially to Eva Jacobsen, Michelle Garner, and Claudia Brown. Memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Family Services of Richmond, SPARC, or the Community Foundation's Conserve the Future Fund.

A “Gathering of Gratitude” for Linda and friends will be held on Saturday, March 25th at 11:00 am in the Robins Room at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, 1800 Lakeside Avenue.

“There is a beginning and an end for everything that is alive. Just remember that in between, there was wonderful living.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodyfuneralhomeparham.com for the Mays family.