Willie Mays

Willie Jerome Mays was born August 8, 1963 to Roosevelt and Nellie Mays at General Hospital. Willie, Big Will, Mr. Willie, Chocolate Thunder or Mr. Mays had personality that was ?Golden?.
As a child, Willie attended the first class of Head Start in Beloit, Wisconsin. Upon returning to Cincinnati, he attended Evanston Elementary and St. Mark which was the beginning of his journey as a Catholic man of God. The family moved to 725 Clark Street and he began attending St. Joseph School. Willie being the person he was had to go to then St. George in Clifton. He was the last 8th grade graduating class of St. George. Willie started his high school career at St. Xavier High School. There he was involved in wrestling and football. In order for him to participate in these activities, he sometimes had to walk to Winton Terrace to his second year at X and had to be home schooled. When time for the next school year to come, he started to attend Elder High School. A legend was born.
His career at Elder started off sort of rocky because he was repeating a year and said there was just too much purple. That sentiment faded fast because he started to ?bleed purple?. He became Elder?s biggest cheerleader. After graduating from Elder, he then attended Xavier University.
While attending Xavier, he hit a very rough patch in his life, but never stopped trying and finally graduated with a BSA in business Administration from Xavier in 1990, the year after his mother passed. He carried a picture of her down the aisle to receive his diploma.
After graduating, he worked several places: Burke Marketing, Procter and Gamble, Clark Gas Station and finally ended up at the IRS.
During all of this, he was developing his relationship with God. He always put God first. His motto was, ?I?m closer to a sinner than a saint and I am still a work in progress.? He would help where he could and give his opinion at all times. His love for his church led him to several ministries such as Parish Council, Collection Committee, Lector, Announcers, Dance and Ushers (Communion Police) and the ?skin boy?, Church Cookout, Fish Fry and Knights of Peter Claver Council 363.
Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Roosevelt and Nellie; and his siblings, Roosevelt Jr., Janie Ruth McCaa, Ida Mae Wilder and Arthur E. Mays, Sr. Cherishing his memory is: his wife, Toledo; sister, Johnnie; special brother-in-law, Reggie; step children, Deon Reeder, Tarquin Reeder and Tashara Holloway; and step granddaughter, Naomi Holloway. Also cherishing his memory are the nieces he helped to raise, Nedia Mays-Magruder and Nanci Mays-Roddy (Brandon); sister-in-law, Dorothy Mays of Wisconsin; and special friend, Mike Smith. There are too many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, great, great nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and family to name.