Donald Everett May

Donald Everett May left his earthly home, which he loved dearly, to go to his eternal home on July 2, 2026, at the age of 79.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Buck Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

James Sutton, Sean Ladson, Sean Parnes, Brayden Parnes, Aiden Ladson, and Tyler Ladson will serve as pallbearers. Larry May, Travis King, Dink Roberts, Terry Baker, Charles Stines, Davis Tyler, Roger May, Hal Morrow, Terry Hewett, David May, and Dennis May will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Donald was born on February 10, 1947, in Hahira, Georgia, to Vernon “Bud” Everett May and Velma Pauline Gibbs. He was the oldest of six children and spent his childhood between Ellenton, Georgia, and San Jose, California. A lifelong learner, Donald loved school and had a remarkable talent for spelling, winning the county spelling bee in the eighth grade. His passion for learning, especially history, continued throughout his life. He could often be found reading books about the Civil War, Ancient Greece, the Vietnam War, or politics.

In 1968, Donald was drafted and chose to enlist in the United States Army. He specialized in radio communications and served honorably during the Vietnam War until his discharge in 1971. While stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, he developed a lifelong appreciation for the American West, exploring places such as Enchanted Rock and Big Bend National Park.

After returning home to Georgia, Donald attended truck driving school. Unable to find work locally, he headed west with just $190 in his pocket and accepted a position with Zero Refrigerated Lines in San Antonio, Texas. It was there he met the love of his life, Gloria, in 1974. They were married in 1977 and soon returned to Georgia, where Donald began a long career with Universal Forest Products in 1978. He remained a dedicated employee while raising two daughters, Jennifer and Marissa.

Donald was a quiet and humble man whose gentle spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. He found great joy in the outdoors and built the family home “in the woods”, near Ellenton. He took great pride in creating the floor plan and building the home on his own with very little outside help. In the woods on the property, he loved taking walks and sharing his knowledge of nature with his daughters. When he wasn’t reading, he could often be found kayaking the rivers of South Georgia and North Florida with his close friends, affectionately known as “The Fellow Travelers”.

One of Donald’s greatest joys was traveling with his family. He especially loved road trips out West, introducing his daughters to the beauty of California, Arizona, Idaho, Texas, and Utah. Along the way, they explored unforgettable places including the Grand Canyon, Snake River, the Badlands, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. Those adventures became treasured family memories, filled with laughter, unexpected mishaps, and a tradition of always staying at the Motel 6.

Donald is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Gloria May; his daughters, Jennifer Ladson (married to Sean Ladson) and Marissa Parnes (married to Sean Parnes); his cherished grandchildren, Abbi Hinson, Aiden and Tyler Ladson, and Alek, Rylee, Brayden, and Jax Parnes; and his siblings, Ava Nell Morrow (married to Hal Morrow), David May, and Dennis May.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon “Bud” Everett May and Velma Pauline Gibbs May, and his siblings, Darrell May and Dwight May.

Donald will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering love for his family, deep appreciation for God’s creation, and his lifelong curiosity about the world. Donald’s legacy lives on through the family he loved, the lessons he shared, and the countless lives he touched with his quiet kindness.

Arrangements entrusted to Baker Funeral Home and Crematory.