Obituary
THE REVEREND DR. MARVIS PROCTOR MAY was born on November 7, 1960, in Los Angeles, California to Precious Jones and the late Alfred May. He departed this earthly life suddenly on November 24, 2007. He spent his formative years in Delhi, Louisiana. His special tutor was his grandfather. He attended Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, graduating in 1978. He accepted Christ at the age of eight at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor H.A. Green. Pastor May acknowledged his ministerial calling at the age of eighteen, while attending Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. He then attended Concord Baptist Church where Dr. E.k. Bailey was Pastor. In 1983, Pastor May was ordained by the Rev. Dr. Ishmael Kimbrough of the People's Missionary Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California.
Pastor May attended Howard University in Washington, DC, where he received a Master of Divinity Degree in a four year program in which he completed in three years. He graduated from Howard University with honors. While attending college, he attended the Metropolitan
Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr.H.Beecher Hicks, where he served as Youth Minister and Assistant to the Pastor. He later received his Doctorate Degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His first charge as a Pastor was at the Union Bethel Baptist Church in King George County, Virginia. In 1989, Pastor May was installed as Pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Baltimore,Maryland. He recently celebrated his eighteenth year as the fifth pastor of this 133 year old church.
Pastor May's goal was to move the Macedonia Baptist Church family toward a total testimony. He believed that a ministry that is faithful is also a ministry that is holistic and meets the needs of the total man. His vision was to mold Macedonia into a church that used biblical teachings to serve all mankind. Pastor May loved God, people, and he loved to declare the unsearchable riches of our Christ. Pastor May blessed the Macedonia congregation with his consuming passion to preach and teach God's Word, his compassion to honor the dignity of men and women, and his sensitivity to the needs of people of all ages. He endeared himself in the hearts of Baltimoreans who readily acknowledged him as a leader extraordinaire. He was a "True Servant of God."
Pastor May loved life and lived each day to the fullest. An avid sports fan, Pastor May thoroughly enjoyed all sports. He played basketball in high school and intramural college. He was a coach for his son's basketball team. During football season, you could count on a mentioning of the "game" sometime during service whether his team won of lost. Pastor also had a strong passion for education and was very active in his children's schooling and activities involved with their education. He would show up at school without warning to check on any of "his kids". His "other" passion was the theater. He enjoyed going to see a play or perhaps a movie, especially when his children were involved. He also loved music. Nat King Cole was one of his favorite singers.
In knowing Pastor May, you knew a man of great stlye and class. He loved to "dress to the nines"; paring off his bespoke suits and shirts with his drivers, cravat, links and pocketed. He became a "true aficiondo of style". His legacy of love will forever remain in our hearts. He will sorely be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Pastor May leaves to cherish his life and mourn his passing; his wonderful children, Christina and Marvis, Jr.; mothers, Ms. Precious Jones of Bakersfield, CA., Mrs. Fletcher May of Las Vegas, NV and Mrs. Oceola Milhouse of Washingto, DC; one brother, Stafford Brent of Brooklyn, NY; one sister, Crystal Brown of Las Vegas, NV; the mother of his children, Pamela Milhouse; two uncles, Percy and Orlando "Lanny" May; his "adopted father", Brother Richard Guiterra; his faithful assistants, Pastor Mark Wainright and Pastor Leonard Alston; the Macedonia Baptist Church Congregation, and the People's Baptist Church of Bakersfield, CA; special friends, Edward Beads, Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes, Pastor James Carter, Bishop Hamilton, Rev. Dr. Wyatt T. Walker, Ms. Ruth Fenwick Johnson, Ms. Gwendolyn Joyner, Ms. Renee Tuck, Rev. Dr. Johnny Youngblood, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
