Jeanne Mays

Jeanne Stewart Arthur Mays was born in Roanoke, Virginia on September 27, 1927, the first child of Rev. Howard Lewis Arthur and Marie Newbill Arthur. Jeanne experienced a gradual decline in health over the past few years, and died peacefully with her daughters by her side on July 12, 2025, having spent the past two years under the supportive and loving care by the staff of Carteret Landing in Morehead City.

After being married in a ceremony conducted by her father in 1951, she and her devoted husband John Wiley Mays spent the first half of their lives in Richmond, VA, raising their three children John Brent Mays, Martha Jeanne Mays (Graham), and Sarah Howard Mays. The family moved to Louisville, KY in 1970 to pursue John’s career and remained there until their retirement in 1988, moving to Pine Knoll Shores, NC. Jeanne moved to Morehead City after John preceded her in death in 2012.

Jeanne attended college before it was commonplace for women to be educated beyond high school. She was dropped off by her father at her dormitory of Meredith College in Raleigh, NC after he informed her that she was “going to college”. She proceeded to earn a degree in Chemistry, graduating in 1948. She went to work in the clinical laboratories of the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. After raising her three children, she trained to be an EEG technician and worked for neurologists in Louisville. In retirement, Jeanne underwent EMT training in NC and drove ambulances near her home in Pine Knoll Shores.

Jeanne is survived by her only sibling Howard Lewis Arthur, Jr. of Charlotte, NC, her three children, and grandchildren Adam Perry, Miriam Mays, and John Arthur Mays. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Emily Perry.

Her spirits have always been buoyed by dear friends wherever she lived. Music has always been a part of Jeanne’s life: she has been a life-long piano player and teacher. In 1964, she purchased her very own piano with which to conduct private lessons (a new Steinway upright piano signed by the creator!). For the vast majority of her adult life, Jeanne very much enjoyed her bridge club, and has always cherished card games and board games with her family. An avid reader, Jeanne also kept up with national and international issues, including tennis and golf tournaments on television.

Jeanne’s remains will join John’s in the columbarium of First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. John and Jeanne enjoyed the warm community of First Pres for most of their time in NC, and Jeanne was a committed member of the choir there for many years.

Jeanne has declined funeral services or ceremonies, and asked that any gestures of remembrance be in the form of donations in her honor to the church-linked choral group Carolina East Singers / 4915 Arendell St. Suit J, PMB 247, Morehead City NC 28557.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC.