Mayo, Seaman Alvin
12/18/2006
SEAMAN ALVIN MAYO
OCTOBER 10, 1927 - DECEMBER 18, 2006
Seaman Alvin Mayo was born in the Methodist parsonage in Clay, Louisiana, on October 10, 1927, to Rev. Claudius Herman Mayo and Lucinda Beula "Dolly" (Hoffpauir) Mayo. He was baptized at the age of five months in Lake Charles at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Mayo, by Bishop Sam R. Hay of Houston, Texas, assisted by Rev. R. H. Wynn. Water used was brought from the River Jordan by his grandfather Mayo. Bishop Hay was in Lake Charles for the laying of the cornerstone of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Alvin made a profession of faith at the age of five years and early felt the call to the ministry. His greatest love was teaching the Bible. He enjoyed taking tapes of services to shut-ins and preaching in nursing homes.
He also loved music. He sang and played the auto-harp and other instruments. He and his wife had a radio program in the sixties called "Hymntime, With the Old Fashioned Pump Organ," on KDXI in Mansfield, Louisiana.
He ministered seven years in the Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma and pastored 31 churches in the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1946 and from Bethany Peniel College, receiving his Th. B., in 1952. He attended the Courses of Study School at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas.
He was united in marriage to Donalda Jane Baldwin on September 28, 1952, in Bethany, Oklahoma and to this union three children, Donalvin Lee, Delwyn Loy and Cindy Jane were born.
He is "Grandpa" to Shellini, Melinda, Timothy and Jeremy, children of native pastor and wife, Saheed and Merlin Mohamed in Guayana, South America.
He retired to Cushing, Oklahoma, near his wife's parents. In his retirement years he served as substitute Sunday School Teacher, taught a U.M.W. Bible Study, did tape ministry and other ministries. For leisure time he liked rocking while listening to gospel music on radio, tapes and CDs.
He passed away on Monday, December 18, 2006, at his residence. He is survived by his wife of over 54 years, Donalda of the home; two sons, Donalvin of the home, Delwyn of Bethany, Oklahoma; one daughter, Cindy Jane Freeman and her husband David of Marrero, Louisiana; two sisters, Dorothy Helen Daigel of California and Minnie Ruth Sayes of Louisiana; several nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Claudius Augustus Mayo and Herman Francis Mayo and one sister Emma Lisa McFillen.
Funeral services were held December 22, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Cushing, Oklahoma.
He is still dearly loved and greatly missed.
Family
Source: Louisiana Conference Journal, 2007; p. 258.
