James Francis May

James Francis May, 61, of Raleigh NC died on December 25, 2014. Jim is survived by his mother Verna F. May, his sister Lisa May, his brother John May, his adult children Lauren May and Mac May and mother of his children, Sharon May—all of Raleigh NC.

Jim was born in Philadelphia PA, but grew up in Raleigh NC and graduated from Sanderson High School, class of 1971. Jim (Jimmy to all of his high school friends) was a great baseball player, a star of the local American Legion and Sanderson teams in his youth; but he was permanently sidelined by a back injury sustained playing for North Carolina State University in the early 1970’s.

Jim was a 35+ year fixture of the Raleigh restaurant scene. He was one of Wake County’s first (and one of the best) bartenders back when “liquor by the drink” was originally legalized. He went on to be a manager at some of Raleigh’s landmark restaurants—Sister’s Garden of Eating, The Angus Barn, and 42nd Street Oyster Bar and a then a founding partner and owner of ten of his own landmarks—The Fine Wine Grill of Cary, Harrison’s Bar & Grill of Cary, Abbey Road Tavern & Grill of Cary, Sawmill Tap Room of Raleigh, MacGregor Draft House of Cary, Village Draft House of Raleigh, Bass Lake Draft House of Holly Springs, Falls Tap Room of Raleigh, Leesville Tap Room of Raleigh, and Tap City of Raleigh.

Jim was an avid Hurricanes fan from the very beginning and when he wasn’t watching hockey he loved nothing more than a long road trip out west with his tunes blasting or a game of catch with his beloved dogs, Tommy and Luke.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh. The family will receive friends following the memorial service.

Contributions can be made to the National Park System,www.nationalparks.org in his memory or flowers are welcome.