Wilbert A. MAY

Narvell
October 12, 1929 - December 13, 2020

Married April 16, 1954

Wilbert
March 28, 1925 - March 24, 2012

Obituary (Narvel)
Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home
Monticello, Akansas

Narvel Briggs May is the second child of thirteen to Rev. William and Emma Langdon Briggs, born October 12, 1929, in Drew County, Arkansas. At an early age, Narvel confessed her belief that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead and lives today in all of our lives. By her teenage years, she was no stranger to hard work; she helped cook, clean, raise her younger siblings, pick cotton, and whatever else “my daddy told me to do” on and off the farm for the family.

After completing her first year in college, her father told her she needed to leave school so he could send her brother; he couldn’t afford two kids in college at the same time. She begged her dad that if he’d let her stay, she’d get a job and put herself through college. He agreed, she got a job as a babysitter and maid and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Arkansas AM&N, now known as UAPB. She immediately began teaching elementary students in Monticello, AR, and moved to Lake Village, AR where she taught at Central Elementary School until retirement. School administrators saw an astonishing result from Narvel’s students; those assigned to her who scored below the reading level at the start of the school year were scoring on or above the reading level at school year-end! Because of this gift, the school district aggressively pursued her to come out of retirement and teach reading again.

She married the man of her dreams, Wilbert A. May, on April 16, 1954. Her father officiated the ceremony at his home. From their marriage, she bore two children, one on her own birthday.

Narvel is preceded in death by her husband of over 57 years, Wilbert May, her parents, Rev. William and Emma Briggs, her stepson, Earl May, her brothers, Earl, Curtis, Adrian, Virgil, and Ernest Briggs and her sisters Willie Mae Briggs Ferrell, and Thelma Briggs.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Carneval Bellamy (Gilbert) and son, Edwin May (Tanya) both of Grand Prairie, Texas; her four granddaughters Choya Graves (Charles), Jardin, Jacqueline, all of Grand Prairie, Texas and Yonne Cowans (Anthony) of San Antonio, Texas; her four great-grandchildren Synai, Brooklyn, Xavier, and Londyn; her brothers Edward (Earline) of Acton, Massachusetts, Jesse (Lucille) of Mt. Morris, Michigan, William, Jr (Nora) of Dermott, Arkansas, and Bennie Jo of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and her sister, Gladys Briggs of Chicago, Illinois. She also leaves to cherish her memories a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, and friends.

The family asks to please keep in mind social distancing while in the Chapel
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Obituary (Wilbert)
Dillard Funeral Home
Lake Village, Arkansas

Wilbert A. May, 86, of Lake Village died Sunday, March 25, 2012, at the Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, MS. Born in Alabama to the late Oliver and Idelle May, he moved to Arkansas in 1930 and attended elementary school in Parkdale and high school at Chicot County Training School in Dermott. He received a B.S. degree in agriculture from Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff and a M.S. in agriculture from Prairie View A&M University at Prairie View, TX. He retired after 32 years as an agricultural county Extension agent in Chicot County.

Survivors include his wife, Narvel May of Lake Village; one daughter, Carnevel and husband Gilbert Bellamy of Grand Prairie, TX; one son, Edwin and wife Tanya May of Grand Prairie, TX; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at New Hope Baptist Church in Lake Village.

Burial was in the Briggs Cemetery, Highway 278, Monticello. Arrangements were by Dillard Funeral Home of Lake Village.

Contributed on 8/23/12 by deltabelle55
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Record #: 745367

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