James Hampton J.H. Mays

   James Hampton Mays, 84, passed away on Jan. 1, 2026 at his home.

   James was born on September 11, 1941, at home on Ralph Mays Road in Hawkinsville Georgia to Ralph Mays Sr. and Aline (Black) Mays. He was hired at Robins Air Material Area on July 5, 1960. He retired from Robins Air Force Base after 33 years, beginning in Punch Card Accounting Machine and advancing up through Operations, Programming to Computer Specialist. One of the highlights of James' career at Robins Air Force Base was his flight in a T-130 Trainer Jet where he sat across from a tall Wyomingian, Dick Cheney, Vice-President for George W. Bush. After retirement from his position at Robins Air Force Base with the 653D Comm-Computer Systems Group on April 12, 1993 at the Holiday Inn, Warner Robins GA, James spent 6 weeks debriefing from life at Robins Air Force Base. He enjoyed meeting for coffee most mornings with his retired buddies at Jones Z Mart. He spent his last 13 years in the workforce as a part-time Courier for Eldercare Pharmacy.

   At the age of 12, James decided to follow Christ and was baptized at Blue Springs Baptist Church. He was a member of Blue Springs Baptist Church for approximately 34 years where he taught Sunday School. James and his family moved to Broad Street Baptist Church 1970 where he was ordained as Deacon. He and his family were members of Broad Street Baptist Church until January 2004, when he and his wife followed his son Tracy who pastors at Browndale Baptist Church. James spent his last years teaching Sunday School and serving as Deacon at Browndale Baptist Church.

   He met the love-of his life; Martha McKinney on February 15, 1960, and married her on December-30, 1962, at Christian Hill Free Will Baptist Church.

   He enjoyed walking, singing, researching family genealogy, listening to Fox News, and watching football and baseball. James loved family reunions and keeping the family together. Each week when the church family was not meeting for lunch at church, all the kids and grands were invited to lunch at Mimi's and Papa's house. James enjoyed meeting with family and friends to worship the Lord and pray together at Browndale Baptist Church.

   Left to cherish his memory, Martha Mays; children, Vonnie (Shelly) Berryhill, Tracy (Ranell) Mays, and Christy (David) McCall; grandchildren, Kristen (Landon) Waters, Alec (Chandler) Mays, Kyle (Toni Lynn) Berryhill, Joseph Mays, Rigdon McCall, and Britt McCall; great-grandchildren, Chase Waters, Kaylin Mays, Ava Mays and Wesley Mays; one- brother; Charles Mays (Dorothy); one sister4in-law, Louise Mays; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

   Service celebration will be held at 2:00 pm on Sat. January 3, 2026 in Clark Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Tracy Mays officiating the service. Pallbearers will be Alec Mays, Kyle Berryhill, Joseph Mays, Rigdon McCall, Britt McCall, Todd Black, Lance Woods and Tommy Thompson. The family will receive friends in Clarks Chapel from 1:00 until 2:00 pm prior to the service. The burial will follow at Orange Hill Cemetery

   If anyone would like to donate in James’ memory, please do so to Browndale Baptist Church, P.O. Box 176, Hawkinsville, GA. 31036.

   James desires to spend eternity in heaven with all of you…so make preparations to be there.