Wilma Mayo Obituary

Wilma Irene Shirley Mayo passed away peacefully on February 24, 2022.  She was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 23, 1936 to Enos and Roberta Shirley. She grew up surrounded by music, and her family performed together on a weekly gospel radio program. They also traveled to many area churches sharing their music and their faith. 

After graduating high school, she completed the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial Program and began working for State Farm.  On a blind date in 1956, she met John Mayo who was a United States Marine and they were married on April 20, 1957.  Shortly after, John was deployed to Japan.  In early 1960, Wilma joined him for three months and their first child, Chris, was ‘made in Japan.’ They were then stationed at Quantico, Virginia and their second child, Carol, was born. 

The following year, they moved to Milan and Wilma worked for attorney John Kizer as a legal secretary. In 1976 they moved to Fairfield, Connecticut and Wilma took a job for the Goldberg Law Firm.  In 1987, they relocated to Auburn, New Hampshire where they remained until retirement in 2002, when they returned to Milan.

In every community that she lived, Wilma was always active in her church. She led many Bible studies, and mentoring young women was her passion. 

Wilma was always involved in music. She sang in school choirs and small ensembles growing up, and then went on to be a soloist at First Baptist in Milan, where she also sang in the choir.  She made several recordings with her daughter’s family and enjoyed performing with them at their annual Christmas concert at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

On January 31, 2016 her husband of 58 years went home to be with Jesus. 

Wilma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She is survived by her son Robert Christopher Mayo (Cindy Mayo) and her daughter Robin Carol Mayo Taubl (John Taubl); her grandchildren Gretchen Taubl Bergeron, Emily Taubl, Annabelle Taubl, Maggie Mayo McMorries, Jack Taubl, Katie Mayo, Sam Taubl, James Taubl and Jeremiah Taubl; and her great grandchildren Isaac McMorries, Charlotte Bergeron, Theodore Bergeron, Griffin Bergeron, Maxwell Bergeron and Luca Vasilieff.  She was pre-deceased by her brother Leon Shirley and sister Janice Reeves.  She is also survived by sister-in-law Gail Shirley of Gardendale, Alabama; sister-in-law Sue Mayo (Don Mayo, deceased) of Milan; in-laws David and Clydean Mayo of Milan; Danny and Barbara McCollum of Milan; Paul and Tissy Moore of Atwood; and Terry Moore of Milan.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Milan on Friday, March 4, 2022.  Visitation will begin at 10am with the funeral service at noon.  Graveside ceremony will be immediately following at Oakwood Cemetery.  All are welcome.