Jesse Gaylord May

COLUMBIA - Dr. J. Gaylord May, 81, died Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Wildewood Downs Health Care Center in Columbia, South Carolina. A Memorial Service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem on Monday, September 8, at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends in the Reception Hall after the service.

Gaylord was born on May 7, 1933, in Danville, VA, the son of Gordon Hill and Eoline Everett May. His family moved to Union, SC, where he was raised. After graduating from high school in Union, he graduated cum laude from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. At the University of Virginia, he earned his doctorate in Mathematics.

After serving as an officer in the U. S. Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland, Dr. May became a tenured professor at Wake Forest University where he taught statistics and finite mathematics until his retirement in 2009. While at Wake Forest he was employed as a research consultant at Bell Laboratories in Greensboro, NC. Dr. May was an active member of the American Mathematics Society, the American Production and Inventory Control Society, Institute of Decision Sciences and numerous other mathematics associations.

Dr. May enjoyed his role as father to his two sons. He was always present to see them compete at their football, basketball, wrestling, track and swim events. He was always available when they needed a little tutoring in mathematics. Gaylord was an avid tennis player and golfer and enjoyed boating at his Lake Norman home.

Gaylord was preceded in death by his twin brother, Dr. Wilkes Graham May. He is survived by son Michael Gaylord May and wife, Katherine of Richmond, VA; son. Gordon Whitten May and wife, Frankie of Columbia, SC; grandchildren, Mary Jo and Jessica Laken May, Erik Bullock, and Brooke Bullock Lao.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Centenary United Methodist Church, 646 W. 5th St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101.

Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.