Cover photo for Kathy Coatney Mays's Obituary
Kathy Coatney Mays Profile Photo
1942 Kathy 2015

Kathy Coatney Mays

August 23, 1942 — January 26, 2015

DR. KATHY COATNEY MAYS

August 23, 1942- January 26, 2015

Kathy Jane Bailey was born to Brady and Violet Bailey on August 23, 1942 near Jacks Creek. She spent all of her life in the Jacks Creek area with the exception of two years in Paris, TN. where she taught elementary school while working on a B.S. Degree in Education at Murray State College. She had graduated from Freed Hardeman, which at that time was a two year college. After finishing at Murray State, she moved back to Jacks Creek and began teaching at Jacks Creek Elementary School. She immediately enrolled at Memphis State University and received her Master Degree in Administrative Education. After finishing this degree, she left the classroom and became a Supervisor in the Chester County School System, where she had earlier graduated as Co-Valedictorian at Chester County High School. After exhibiting excellent leadership qualities in that position, she ran for Chester County Superintendent in 1976 and was elected to that position where she served for twenty years, being elected by the people for five terms of four years each. In 1996, she opted to retire from education. During her tenure as an educator, she belonged to several education related organizations and sororities and was acknowledged as an outstanding educational leader.

After retirement she continued to work in the field of education as Director of the West Tennessee Community Services, which encompassed thirteen counties in West Tennessee and served up to 250 youngsters each year. The students involved were between the ages of 13-18 years old. This program was federally funded and was closed after operating for 23 years.

Dr. Mays was also involved in organizing the Jacks Creek Community Club, which is well known in the West Tennessee area for its fried pies sales at the annual Chester County Bar-B-Q Festival.

Dr. Mays was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Billy Coatney, also a sister and brother, Earlene Jones (Melbern), and Judge Howard Bailey (Fran), and brother-in-law, Newsome Jones (Jo Ann). She is survived by her husband, Ralph Mays, stepchildren, Tara Carson (Steve) and Mickey Mays, step granddaughter, Rachel Herbert (Erik), step great grandsons, Henry and Will Herbert, sister, Jo Ann Jones and family, brother Lavern Bailey (Shirley) and family, brother-in-law, Melbern Jones and family, sister-in-law, Fran Bailey and family and several loving nephews, nieces, cousins, and other family members.

Dr. Mays was a loving Christian who belonged to the Jacks Creek Community of Christ Church since childhood. She loved God, family and friends.

Visitation will be at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Johnson Chapel in Henderson on Wednesday January 28, 2015 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and funeral services will be held on Thursday January 29, 2015 at 11:30 AM. Services will be held by Jimmy Dyer and Dwight Jones, burial will follow at Bailey Cemetery at Jacks Creek Community of Christ Church.

Pallbearers are Darren Bailey, Box Bailey, Dan Chamberlain, Stan O’Neal, Tim Droke and Billy Shumate.

Shackelford Funeral Directors – Johnson Chapel
Henderson, TN
731-989-2624
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathy Coatney Mays, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

5:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)

Shackelford Funeral Directors

619 East Main Street -, Henderson, TN 38340

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Chapel Services

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Starts at 11:30 am (Eastern time)

Shackelford Funeral Directors

619 East Main Street -, Henderson, TN 38340

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Cemetery

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