Nell May

Nell R. May, age 93, went to her heavenly home December 30, 2024 at Mountain City Care and Rehab. Nell was born October 22, 1931 to the late Johnny and Maude Slemp. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ted May; daughter, Lois Farley; sisters, Mary Cornett and Ethel Woods; brothers, James Earl Slemp, Bascom Slemp, and Rev. Charles Ray Slemp; grandchildren, Kimberly Phillippi, Billy May and Holland Lee Farley.

Nell adored her family and especially loved cooking meals for them. She enjoyed being outside, working in her garden or tending to her flowers. She always put God first and loved going to church. She was a member of Locust Gap Freewill Baptist Church. When she was not able to attend services, she liked listening to preaching on the radio. Nell was also a hard worker and retired from Levi Strauss.

Those left to cherish her memories include her four children, Naomi Ward, Joyce May Harrelson (Mack), Billy May, Rick May; grandchildren, Patti Nichols (Jimmy), Valarie Durham (Neal), Russell Ward (Jennifer), Warren May (Savanna), Benjamin May (Jessica), Leah Cornett (Chris), Rachel Merryman (Adam), Andrea Ward (Shuler), Rosie Tyndall; great grandchildren, Wesley Nichols (Megan), Nathan Nichols (Kaylee), John Nichols (Elizabeth), Jeffrey Nichols, Austin Durham (Sarah), Naomi Faith Durham, Evelyn Ward, Grant Ward, Blake Phillippi, Mykayla Osborne, Lilly May, Sarah May, Caleb May, Cristen Cornett, Braden Cornett, Kaylee Cranford, and Austin Merryman; great great grandchildren, Isabel, Willa Jane, Kenneth Wesley, and Claire; many special friends and several nieces and nephews. 

A celebration of Nell's life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Mountain City Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

The family of Nell R. May has entrusted her services to Mountain City Funeral Home, 224 S. Church Street, Mountain City, TN, 37683.