Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Billy Gene May, 85, Elizabethton, passed away Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness.
A native of Carter County, he was a son of the late John “Ed” and Lillie B. Grindstaff May.
Billy was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and attended Steed College. He had served in the United States Army. He loved woodworking and fishing. He was a member of Range Community Christian Church.
Billy was retired from Mapes Piano String as a machine operator. He will be greatly missed by the children of Range Community Church, as he was known for his hugs and passing out candy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Judy Nease May, who passed away April 4, 2017.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Tonya and Chuck Milam; a granddaughter, Lily Catherine Milam; three sisters, Patricia DiFranco, Rock Hill, S.C., Barbara Mick and Ina Briggs, Elizabethton; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 10, in the Grindstaff-Combs Cemetery with Minister Randy Overdorf officiating. Interment will follow the service. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be his church family, neighbors and friends. Friends may register their presence at the funeral home from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Mr. May to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Range Community Christian Church, 175 Hart Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to ETSU Family Medicine Associates. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to go in procession to the cemetery. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the May family.