Wanda Sue Duke Mays, age 81, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at Garden Park Nursing Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Visitation were held on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 from 10 to 11 am at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, Louisiana. A graveside service was held that same day at 1:00 P.M., officiated by Rev. James Skinner, at Western Cemetery in Walkerville, Arkansas.
Mrs. Mays was a resident of Ruston, Louisiana, for over 50 years. She was born in Springhill, Louisiana, in 1941 and graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Mathematics. She was a brilliant and dedicated high school math teacher for over 30 years at Cedar Creek High School, Ruston High School, and several other schools in the area. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for most of her adult life. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, playing bridge, and entertaining family and friends.
Mrs. Mays was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy and Leo Duke of Springhill, Louisiana. She is survived by her husband, James Raymond Mays, with whom she had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in August 2022. Other survivors include son, Dr. John Mays and his wife, Lori, of Shreveport, Louisiana, and son, Andrew Mays and his wife, Julie, of Ruston, Louisiana; five grandchildren, Madeline Mays, Isabelle Mays, Rebecca Mays, Cason Mays, and Samantha Mays; brother, Darrell Duke and his wife, Kathy, of Monroe, Louisiana; and nieces, Laurie Duke, Dana Caldwell and family; and sister in law, Corinne Bland of Springhill, LA.
Pallbearers will be Cason Mays, William Nettles, George Parkman, Allen Herbert, James Davison, and Jerry Darnell. The family would like to thank the staff at Garden Park for their constant, compassionate care of our mother. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana.
Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhones.com
