John Benjamin Mays

John Benjamin “Benny” Mays, 82 of Chapmanville, WV, departed this life on September 11, 2023 at Hillcrest Health Center, Danville, WV.

He was born September 28, 1940 in Peach Creek, WV the son of the late Robert and Elfie Mays.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Noah Benjamin and Ella Haner and Jane Mays; sisters, Marie (Billie), Roberta (Bobby), Dora, and Ella Mae.

John Benny enjoyed going to Marshall football games, the Cincinnati Reds, going to the beach with his wife, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He graduated from Logan High School in 1958 then graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor Degree of Music in 1964 and later graduated Liberty University with Masters in counseling in 1988. Benny was the band director of Chapmanville High School and Logan High School in May 1961-May 1973, a former clinical director at Logan-Mingo Area Mental Health, a substance abuse professional counselor at Logan-Mingo Area Mental Health from 1972 then retired in June 2020. He was a Licensed Professional Counselor and held credentials of Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor and was a DUI Instructor at Logan-Mingo Area Mental Health for 20+ years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 41 years, Elizabeth “Libby” Mays; two daughters, Stephane Goodin (Chad) of Mooresville, NC and Stacia Ball (Derrick Barns) of Smith Mountain Lake, VA; one son, John Allen (Sherri) Mays of Scott Depot, WV; grandchildren, Keili Jon (Bobby) Howard of Knoxville, TN, Haley Anne (Justin) Preston of Big Creek, WV, Sydney Elizabeth Wiley (Nick Estevez) of Concord, NC, Kaylee Christian (Mason) Kingery of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Camryn Dianne Johnson of Mt. Holly, NC, Lynsey Elizabeth Ball of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Morgan Ryleigh Johnson (Jacob Colvard) of Gastonia, NC, Jonathan Christopher Ball of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Ava Rena Tue of Scott Depot, WV, and John Alekzander “Zander” Mays of Scott Depot, WV; great-grandchildren, Zayden Phoenix Howard, Braydon John Chapman, Kellan Maverik Howard, Kashton Mays Broome, Charleigh Noel Preston, Easton Jon Kingery, Jackson Lee Colvard, and Rennon Felix Estevez.

We want to thank the Hillcrest Health Center director, Laura, the director of nursing, Ryan Mays physical therapy director, the LPN's, CNA's, and others who took excellent care of John during his brief stay at their facility.

Visitation will be on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 12:00 to 2:00pm at the First Baptist Church, Chapmanville, WV.

Services will be held at 2:00pm, September 14, 2023 at the church with Jeff Hargraves officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Chapmanville, WV.

Pallbearers will be Durand Warren, Chad Goodin, Bobby Howard, Mason Kingery, Jonathan Ball, Ryan Mays, Jacob Colvard, and Nick Estevez.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the men of First Baptist Church of Chapmanville, WV.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Freeman Funeral Home, Chapmanville, WV is in charge of the arrangements.