Maxine May

Maxine Delores May was born in Campti, Louisiana on June 26, 1947, to Mary Hathaway and Sonny Scott. At the age of five, Maxine came to Kansas City and was lovingly raised by her great-uncle and aunt, Isadore and Eloise Gross. She was introduced to Christ at an early age at Morning Star Baptist Church and accepted Him at an early age as her Savior. She remained active in her church home all through her youth and young adulthood. Maxine?s teenage years at Lincoln High School were full of participation and achievement. She was a Majorette, sung with a trio known as ?The Madonnas? and belonged to the Les Jeunes Filles, a club made up of sharp, aspiring young women. Even with all that and her studies, Maxine also worked part-time at Three Star Market, a neighborhood Grocery Store. After high school, Max, as she was affectionately called, attended Metropolitan Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Business. Throughout her ensuing career, she often took advantage of various training programs, always seeking to sharpen her skills. That career began with a position at Marion Labs. She subsequently joined Yellow Freight in 1973. Never one to avoid a challenge, she worked for many years as a Medical Claims Specialist and later the Workman?s Comp Specialist for the organization. More than once, she was featured in the company magazine. In 1978, James May met the love of his life, and later married Maxine, on February 11, 1979. Their devoted partnership was in its thirty-ninth year. Together they enjoyed raising their children, Monquenette (Paul) Washington and Jenard May. Life was spiced with traveling to family reunions, cheering for their son at football games, and proudly watching their daughter attained a Nursing Degree. Maxine retired from Yellow Freight after twenty years, but she never missed a beat. She and James have travelled from one end of the country to the other, the Caribbean and Canada. She and her sister, Greta Burton started and operated a successful customized outerwear company. They called it Bora (in Swahili, ?noble and excellent) Company. It all started with providing special shirts for Golfers. Ultimately, their largest client was clothing for KCPL Field Employees. She was an On-Call Assistant in the front office of the Lawrence A. Jones Mortuary. She sung in the choir of a church she and James helped start. Max?s passion were her grandchildren, Azia, Aaron, and Ariana Washington, and when they weren?t available, she was known to hold or give a hug to any little person who needed one. She also loved growing beautiful flowers and keeping up with two furry babies, the family pets. To say that Max was stylish is an understatement. She had a real talent for coordinating clothes and accessories and dressed beautifully and effortlessly, for every occasion. She used that same skill to decorate the interior of any room. But more that the physical beauty, she had a welcoming, open spirit. Max never met a stranger. Maxine May will forever be in the hearts of her loving family and many friends. Maxine Delores May leaves to cherish her memories, a son, Janard L. May of Independence, Missouri; a daughter, Monquenette C. Washington of Lee?s Summit, Missouri; a sister, Greta Burton of Dallas, Texas; three grandchildren; one nephew; other relatives and friends. Memorial Service for Maxine Delores May will be held Saturday, January 13, 11:00 a.am. at Paseo Baptist Church, 2501 Paseo Blvd. Private Disposition.

Maxine May

June 26, 1947 - January 2, 2018