Arthur William "Bill" May

Arthur William (Bill) May passed away at the age of 70 from glioblastoma brain cancer. He was born in Indianola, Mississippi to Albert Edwin May and Nell Kathryn Cleveland May. He grew up in Fulton, Mississippi as the third of four siblings. His father was a highway patrol man and his mother was an attorney.

His parents were believers in Christ Jesus. His family attended First Baptist Church of Fulton and he became a Christian at an early age. After graduating from Itawamba Agricultural high school, he played first-string defensive tackle for the Ole Miss Rebels. On the weekends he would come home from Oxford to care for his younger brother, Alfred Edwin (Eddie) May Jr. who was quadriplegic since infancy. After graduating with a degree Criminal Justice from Ole Miss, he moved to Quantico, Virginia where he trained SWAT teams for the FBI. He then decided to move back to Mississippi and follow in his mother’s footsteps by becoming an attorney. He served as a Mississippi State Senator for the 5th district, which included Itawamba, Prentiss and Tishomingo counties. He met his wife, Marty Hederman in Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Jackson and they were married there in 1982. Together they had two daughters, Mary Margaret and Madeline. He walked both of his daughters down the aisle on their wedding day to Christian men, Madeline to Andrew Brewer and Mary Margaret to John Culpepper. He had two grandchildren. His grandson, Adam Brewer was born in 2017 and his granddaughter Anna Brewer was born in 2019.

He was a dynamic, brave and loving man like no other. At 6 foot 3 with broad shoulders he was often described as a sheep in wolves clothing to those who knew him best. He loved to boldly share the gospel of Christ Jesus to those he met. He served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson where he was also active in the prison missionary and in short term missions. Although he shared the gospel with many, those he shared it with the most were his wife and two daughters. He led both of his daughters to faith alone in Christ alone at an early age. He was a devoted son and brother. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert Edwin May and Nell Kathryn May, and his brothers, Albert Edwin "Eddie" May and Michael May.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann May, his sister, Mary May McKellar, his daughters Mary Margaret Culpepper and Madeline Brewer, his sons in law Andrew Brewer and John Culpepper, and his grandchildren Adam and Anna Brewer.

The family will have visitation at Highlands Presbyterian Church at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 21, 2022. The funeral service will follow at 2:30 pm. There will be a reception at the May family home following the service at 431 Greenwood Lane in Ridgeland.