May, Scott Alvin
Scott Alvin May, long term resident of Forest and Lynchburg, died on Sunday, April 5, 2015 in Bridgewater, Va., at age 95.Born on October 26, 1919, in Bedford County, he was the son of Joseph Robert May and Lillie Terrell May. His early years were shaped by his family’s farm in Forest, his education at Forest Elementary School and New London Academy, and his membership at Bethany Methodist Church.As a youth, he worked for the A. N. Campbell Co. in Lynchburg and for Duvall Motors in Forest. As a young adult, he worked for the U. S. Corps of Engineers and then for the Ralph E. Mills Co., which employed him to work on construction of the InterAmerican highway in Costa Rica. His next employment with the Virginia Tractor Co. in Richmond led him to the love of his life, Annette Floyd May, his wife and life partner for 65 years. He joined the Army, completed basic training in Fort Bliss, Tex., and served with the occupation forces in Yukusko, Japan. He established May Bros, Inc., General Contractors, in Lynchburg in 1949. Retiring from May Bros. in 1976, he became involved in residential, commercial and industrial development, working with Foresight Land Corporation and serving as President of Annjo Land Corporation.His devotion to public service was a hallmark of his life. He served on the Bedford County Board of Supervisors for 20 years and was always grateful for the trust of his constituents, which was expressed by his election for four terms in office. He accepted appointments from two Governors to serve on the Local Government Advisory Council. He held memberships in the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, the Bedford County Planning Commission, and the Central Virginia Planning District Commission. He served on the Virginia Baptist (Centra Health) Hospital Board, the Bedford County Memorial Hospital Board, the American Federal Savings and Loan Association Board, and the Liberty Bank of Bedford Board of Directors. He was President of the Forest Recreation Center for 15 years and a member of the Forest Ruritan Club for 50 years. He twice received the Forest Ruritan Citizenship Award, once on his own and once when presented jointly to him and his wife Annette May.He held the Masonic Order in high esteem and established a lifelong record of service which began with his membership in Marshall Lodge #39 AFAM, Lynchburg and grew to include him becoming a Scottish Rite Mason, joining the Kazim Temple of the Shrine of Roanoke, serving as Master of Forest Lodge #245, as District Deputy Grand Master for the 24th Masonic District, as Noble Grand of Virginia Home Lodge #12, and as District Deputy Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was his enduring honor to be called upon to preside over more than 200 Masonic funerals through the years of his active participation. It was his treasured privilege to have mentored dozens of new members into Masonry.Through his adulthood he held memberships in Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, Forest Baptist Church, where he served as Treasurer and Chair of the Building and Fundraising Committee, and First Baptist Church of Lynchburg, where he served on the Board of Deacons. His faithfulness was uplifted by the blessings of his marriage to an enthusiastic and talented contributor to liturgical music and church choirs.He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his 10 siblings, Irene Ledbetter, Julian May, Myrtle White, Sally Good, Herbert May, Dawson May, Wesley May, Alma Arter, Wyatt May, and Claude May.Surviving are his daughter, Rhonda May Zingraff and her husband, Charles W. Thomas, of Mt. Jackson, Va.; his granddaughter, Lauren Michelle Zingraff of Durham, N.C.; his grandson, Owen Scott Zingraff and his wife, Meredith P. Zingraff, of Charlotte, N.C.; and a large family of nieces, nephews and cousins.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 11, 2015, in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Service with the Rev. Dr. Ed Parrish III officiating and with burial at Fort Hill Memorial Park with Masonic Rites. The family will welcome visitors on Friday, April 10, 2015 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Service located at 427 Graves Mill Rd.Memorial contributions may be made to The Masonic Home of Virginia, P. O. Box 7866, Henrico, VA 23231; or to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, P. O. Box 937, Verona, VA 24482.Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory, (434) 239-2405 is assisting the family. Memories and thoughts may be shared with the family at www.heritagefuneralandcremation.com.
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