Mr. Jesse Ray Mayo, age 89, a resident of 1104 Harrington Street, Washington, NC, died Monday, August 20, 2012, at his home.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m Wednesday, August 22, 2012, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington officiated by Dr. Jimmy Moore. Burial with Masonic Rites will follow at Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Cecil Leggett, Octavius Wallace, Jr., Ray Briley, Doug Currin, Ron Pilgreen and Bill Cutler will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Mayo’s nephews and members of the Timberlake Baracca Sunday School Class.
Mr. Mayo was born in Beaufort County to the late John James Mayo and Bessie Smith Mayo and was raised in the Bear Creek community between Chocowinity and Grimesland until he was drafted into the Army following his graduation from Grimesland High School. He served his country during World War II as a Tech Sergeant in the 24th Infantry in the Pacific Theater. Following the war, Mr. Mayo received training in refrigeration and was employed by Maola Ice Cream Company of Washington for 32 years. Mr. Mayo also worked for 27 years as a driver for Evans Seafood of Washington. Mr. Mayo was a member of the First Baptist Church for over 60 years and was currently a member of the Timberlake Baracca Sunday School Class. He was a member of Orr Lodge #104 A.F. & A.M. since 1962, having recently received his 50 year pin. Mr. Mayo was a member of York Rite and Shriner’s Sudan Temple and was Past Master and Treasurer of Orr Lodge for the past 20 years. He had been awarded the Knights of York Cross of Honor and was Past Sovereign Master of Duke of Beaufort Council Number 20 AMD. Mr. Mayo was a member and past commander of the American Legion and a member of the Washington Moose Lodge since 1965. Mr. Mayo was married to the former Letty Lupton Mayo, who preceded him in death on August 5, 2007.
Mr. Mayo is survived by his daughter Jackie Gautier and husband Harry and “daughter one- and- a- half ” Laurie Gautier Moore and husband Kenny all of Washington, NC, loving and faithful nephews LaVern Mayo and wife Shirley of Chocowinity and South Creek, NC, Ken Dickerson and wife Joyce of Seaford, Va., Wayne Dickerson and wife Julia of Florida, Larry Dickerson of Greensboro, NC, Essie Hales of New Bern, NC, Judy Bryant and husband Eddie of Chocowinity, NC, and Tracy Jarvis and husband Kevin of Chocowinity, NC.
In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Mayo is preceded in death by infant brothers, James and John Mayo; brothers, Major Floyd Mayo and LeRoy Mayo, sister, Rosa Lee Boyd and twin sister, Bessie Mae Dickerson.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington and other times at the home located at 1104 Harrington Street, Washington, NC 27889.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College Ave., Oxford, NC 27565, First Baptist Church, Widow’s Mite Fund, 113 North Harvey Street, Washington, NC 27889 or to the Beaufort County Humane Society, Post Office Box 8, Washington, NC 27889.
Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Mayo family.