James Mays

James Richard Mays, age 85, of Berry, Alabama, passed away September 9, 2025, at Northport Medical Center. Private services will be held.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann Mays; sons, James Lee Mays, and Richard Baird Mays; father, John Baird Mays; mother, Cletis Ester Elliedge; and brothers, John Donald Mays and Josheph Edward Mays.

Survivors include his daughter, Amanda Sheree Burns (Josh) of Berry, Ala.; sisters, Brenda Marie Walker (John) of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and Mary Jane Kestner of Bluefield, Virginia; and grandchildren, Christa Nicole Sansom, Kinsley Faye Pittman, Kamri Nicole Potts, James Lee Mays II, Holly Leigh Ann Knecht, and Onawa Elara Sky Mays.

James was born in Premier, WV. He graduated from Welch High School in 1958. He was a business owner then retired from DANA Corporation in Buena Vista, VA. James was a kind spirit who was nice to everyone he met and would do anything to help anyone. He had many close friends who were like family that always kept in close contact with him after moving to Alabama with his daughter. He loved the outdoors, but fishing was his absolute favorite. He had a love for animals regardless of domestic or wild, he took care of them all; but loved his cats like they were his children. He also loved spending time with all his grandchildren. They made his heart so happy. He will forever be missed and loved by so many.