Wilma Mays, 94, of Mt. Vernon, passed away at 8:10 a.m. Sunday, December 27, 2020, at Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

She was born September 15, 1926, in Dix, the daughter of Troy and Grace (Mooney) Douthit.  On December 24, 1945, in Dermott, Arkansas, she married Howard E. Mays, and he preceded her on December 23, 1975.

She graduated from Dix High School, and later graduate from cosmetology school in 1943.  She was a member of Dix United Methodist Church, and was also a long time member of the Order of the Eastern Star, receiving her 50-year pin in 2018.  She retired in 1996, after working for many years as a secretary at Casey Middle School in Mt. Vernon.

She is survived by one daughter, Trula Wells and husband Larry of Metropolis; two sons, Gerald Mays of Mt. Vernon, and Darrel Mays and wife Robyn of Mt. Vernon;  four grandchildren, Melia Steffy and husband Jeff of Mt. Vernon, Joshua Mays and wife Buffy of Dahlgren, Tressa Porter and husband Chad of Woodlawn, and Tiffany Ellegood and husband Phillip of Calvert City, Kentucky;  several great-grandchildren;  one brother, Charles Douthit and wife Mary;  two sisters, Ramona Flanigan and husband Mike, and Shirley Phelps;  and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents;  and siblings, Bud Douthit, Marilyn Blackwell, and Gene Douthit.

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, a private family funeral service will be held, with burial to follow at Boyd Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Jordan Chapel Cemetery, and will be accepted by mail to the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, Illinois 62830.  Online condolences may be made at www.osbornfuneral.com, or on the Osborn Funeral Home Facebook page.