Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 1-26-18

Oliver Mayo Passes After Brief Illness
Florida Women’s Hall Of Fame Seeks Nominations
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Oliver Mayo, a retired family man, died Monday af- ternoon, January 22, 2018, at home, with family members by his side. He was 92 years old.
A Tampa native, Mr. Mayo learned recently that he had a heart ailment. He was known throughout the com- munity and never met a stranger.
At the time of his death, Mr. Mayo resided with his only surviving daughter, Vir- ginia Anderson and her husband, John Anderson, Sr.
After graduating from high school, Mr. Mayo attended Bethune-Cookman College. He then joined the U. S. Navy and had an opportunity to travel around the world. He earned a certificate as a Surgical Relief Aide.
After his service commit- ment, Mr. Mayo spent 20 years working at Bay Pines Veterans Hospital. When the James A. Haley Veterans Hos- pital opened in Tampa, he was among the first African-Amer- icans hired, Mrs. Anderson said. He spent a total of 35 in the VA System.
After retiring, he worked several more years at what was then known as the Ice Palace (Amalie Arena). When the hockey team won the champi- onship, he received a ring like the team members. He was also a poll watcher through the Supervisor of Elections Office for many years. “He’d work 2 jobs to take care of his family,” she said.
He received many awards, certificates and commenda- tions for his years of work.
As a maître at the MacDill Officers Club, Mr. Mayo often took teen boys with him
OLIVER MAYO
...A gentleman who left priceless memories in the community
so that they could make extra spending money. “Every day he’d take a different set of boys.”
He was a loyal member of American Legion Post #167, where he had served as Com- mander, and at the time of his death, was Chaplain. He was a member at First Baptist Church of College Hill for over 50 years, and said he had 2 churches as he often attended church with his daughter and son-in-law, at New Millen- nium.
Mr. Mayo had a daily rou- tine that included prayer, breakfast with his son-in-law, a little TV, listening to jazz (his meditation time), and sitting on the screen porch.
Mr. Mayo was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Sally Mayo; wife, Chris- tine and 2 daughters, Theresa Mayo and Olivia Roane. In addition to his daughter and son-in-law, he is survived by numerous grand- children, great-grands, and great-great-grands.
Funeral services are planned for Saturday, Febru- ary 3, 2018, 2 p. m. at First Baptist Church of College Hill. Ray Williams Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
The Florida Commission on the Status of Women is currently accepting nomina- tions for the 2018 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. The nomination period will end on Wednesday, January 31st.
This year’s inductees will join current members on the walls of the Florida Capitol.
The Florida Women’s Hall of Fame commemorates women’s history by honoring and remembering those women whose lives and con- tributions have improved the quality of life for both Florida and the nation.
The Commission will rec- ommend to the Governor Rick Scott ten outstanding women from whom up to three will be chosen for in-
duction. Inductees will be recognized at a special cere- mony on Sept. 26, 2018, in Orlando.
Since its inception in 1982, the Hall of Fame has recognized and honored Florida women who, through their lives and work, have made significant contribu- tions to the improvement of life for all citizens of the state.
Some of the notable in- ductees include former U. S. Attorney General Janet Reno, singer Gloria Este- fan, internationally-honored tennis athletes Chris Evert and Althea Gibson, Pilot Betty Skelton Frankman, Bethune-Cookman College founder Mary McLeod Bethune, Congresswomen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carrie Meek, Tillie Fowler and Ruth Bryan Owen, Florida Trend Publisher Lynda Keever, and Everglades advocate and suffragist Marjory Stone- man Douglas.
Visitors can view the Hall of Fame members immortal- ized on plaques in the Capitol Rotunda or on the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame web- site.
Anyone wishing to nomi- nate a woman for the honor can mail to nomination to: 2018 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame postmarked by Jan. 31, 2018 or through the web- site FlWomensHallofFame.- org/Nominate.
FYI
Food Giveaway To Benefit 400 Families
On Saturday, February 3rd, True Prosperity Evangelist Out- reach, Inc., will host a food giveaway. The event will begin at 2 p.m., at the church, 8751 N. 40th Street, (corner of N. 40th Street and E. Humphrey).
Apostle Cornelius Hamilton said, “We just want to bless the community with this event. We are inviting those in need to come out and take advantage of this opportunity to re- ceive this free food. We have enough non-perishable food to feed 400 families.”
The event is being sponsored by Feeding America. Anyone wishing to obtain more information may call (813) 965-7796.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A