James Cal Mayo, 77, of Louisville, MS, died on Monday, August 27, 2012, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford, following a brief illness. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, in Louisville following a private family burial service.
Born November 6, 1934, in Detroit, Michigan, to Clarence and Annie Mayo, Mr. Mayo graduated from Louisville High School in 1952. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and serving in the United States Air Force, Mr. Mayo obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Mr. Mayo returned to Louisville in 1962 where he practiced law continuously for 50 years. Among other professional accomplishments, Mr. Mayo won an argument before the United States Supreme Court and proudly served many years as the Attorney for the Town of Noxapater. He most recently oversaw the expansion of his law firm, Fair & Mayo, to Meridian, MS, with the addition of his son, John, as his law partner.
Mr. Mayo loved life and lived it to its fullest. Whether riding his tractor at his farm in Oxford; hunting and looking after the timber on his land; debating politics and sports at Hardee's or the Biscuit Bar; cheering for his beloved Wildcats and Rebels; attending the Final Four, the World Series, or the Neshoba County Fair; or fighting for his clients' best interests, Mr. Mayo devoted his full energy to the task. He began his life delivering newspapers on the streets of Detroit during World War II, saw Elvis sing in Las Vegas in 1956, traveled the world with the Mississippi Air National Guard, shook hands with Presidents, never met a stranger, and was a doting grandfather who will be remembered as "Pop."
Mr. Mayo was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rev. Clarence Mayo, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Jones Mayo, his five children, Lee Ann Mayo(Gary Gusick) of Jackson, MS, and their daughter, Vanessa Gusick, Cal Mayo(Caroline) of Oxford, MS, and their children, Virginia, William, Callie and Thomas, John Mayo (Lacey) of Meridian, MS, and their children, Ian, Alex and Max, Peter Mayo of Oxford, MS, and Jane Mayo (Jenna McAuley) of Brooklyn, NY. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Lee Jones of Louisville, MS, his sister-in-law, Barbara Mayo of Meridian, MS, and six nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the James and Sandra Mayo Scholarship Fund at the University of Mississippi Foundation, Post Office Box 249, University, MS 38677 or www.umfoundation.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
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