May Day Folk Taylor

May Day Folk was born on March 28, 1944 in Washington, DC to Colonel Oliver Harold Folk, US Army, and May Day Wyatt Folk. She was the eldest of three daughters. Her sisters, Ruth Davidson and Frances (“Bunny”) Zygmont, were a constant source of love and support in her life. She is a proud alumna of Woodrow Wilson High School ‘62 in Washington, DC, where she was the 1961 city trigonometry champion. She is also a proud alumna of Agnes Scott College ‘66 in Decatur, GA, where she majored in her personal passion - American history.

May Day was a devout Episcopalian and active member of All Saints’ Church in Chevy Chase, MD. At church, she was an avid note-taker during sermons and thrived as a scripture reader and lay Eucharist minister. Her faith sustained her throughout her adult life and shepherded her through several of life’s challenges - single motherhood, two rambunctious sons, two divorces, three bouts of breast cancer, and daily life as a female business owner and entrepreneur, and then later, living with Parkinson’s disease. Throughout her life, she endured, overcame, and accomplished - without ever giving up. She was a model to not only her two sons, but countless women she interacted with regularly.

As a young adult, she worked for the World Bank as a secretary and found fulfillment in helping with the mission of refinancing foreign debt to help others. Later, she would become a successful businesswoman, who shattered numerous glass ceilings in the DMV automotive industry. She was a driving force and long time owner of United Buying Service, Inc. (UBS). Later, she would form a companion business, Consulting Advertising and Research Services, Inc. (CARS). She found success helping people with their transportation needs in the Washington-Baltimore area for five decades.

In her professional life, she loved that she had a hand in helping others. She was forever a champion for the underdog and those who needed an extra hand for help. She was widely known for being a “class act” and for being generous, kind, and fair. May Day was also tough when she needed to be - a force in any room. She was also known for her impeccable integrity and for her fierce business acumen. Later in life, she was proud to partner in business with her eldest son, Scott.

In her personal life, she followed her passion for American history. She was an avid philatelist, active in several stamp clubs including the Mr. Beasley Stamp Club of Chevy Chase. She was also active on the council of philatelists at the Smithsonian’s U.S. Postal Museum in Washington, DC and even contributed to exhibits, where her work was published and featured on the frontpage of the Washington Post. May Day was instrumental in bringing the history of the Alexandria “Blue Boy” Postmaster Provisional Stamp to life.

With her mother, she was an active member of the Dolley Madison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she was proud to lead at the local, state, and national level. She enjoyed DAR because she was passionate about American history and because she was able to spend time with her mother. May Day particularly enjoyed working with new Americans through the DAR’s naturalization support programs (something she was particularly passionate about). She enjoyed guest teaching about the American Revolution in Mr. Ed Mullany’s U.S. History classes at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. She loved to travel, though she wished she was able to do more - her favorite travel destinations included New York City, London, and Paris.

Service to others was very important to May Day. She would be proud to know that her sons are active in the service of others. She was pleased to see her youngest son, Thomas, return home to work for Montgomery County Public Schools. Her greatest joy in retirement was found in her grandchildren, children, and church. In her last years, her eldest son Scott, faithfully managed her care and wishes. According to her wishes, she passed peacefully at home, with her sons and family close by.

She is preceded in death by her father, her mother, and sister, Ruth Davidson. She is survived by her two sons, Scott Shewmaker and Thomas Taylor; their wives Emily Shewmaker and Sue Winslow; and her grandchildren: Luke Shewmaker, Lindsay Shewmaker, Sydney Taylor, Cecilia Taylor, Cameron Boynton, Olivia Boynton, and Eleanor Taylor. She is also survived by her sister, Bunny Zygmont, her husband Paul Zygmont, her sister Ruth Davidson’s husband David Davidson, and her nephews: Mark Davidson, Steve Davidson, Matthew Zygmont, and Nathan Zygmont - all of whom she loved dearly.

Scott and Thomas and their families would like to express gratitude to the many hands of caretakers, especially Jackie Hall and Isatu Kamara, who helped May Day in her final years to ease discomfort and pain. Scott and Thomas would also like to express gratitude to their entire family, many friends, business associates, and clergy who enriched May Day’s life and were present for many life milestones.

Expressions of sympathy can be sent to the family, care of All Saints Church, 3 Chevy Chase Circle, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation of the National Capital Area at 3570 Olney Laytonsville Rd #490, Olney, MD 20830.

Memorial Services will be held at All Saints’ Church in Chevy Chase, MD on Friday, October 2nd at 2:00 PM.