Marilyn

Mays

Reflection of Life

MARILYN DELORES (ARRINGTON) MAYS, was born in Lawrenceville, Brunswick County,
Virginia on May 20, 1941 to the late Charlie Bell Arrington and Lessie Lee (Wilkins) Arrington.
She was the seventh of eight children.
She was educated in the Brunswick County School System and then relocated to Englewood,
New Jersey in 1970 where she resided for 51 years. She studied at the Parisian Beauty
Academy in Hackensack, New Jersey where she obtained her license as a cosmetologist.
Marilyn Mays was united in Holy Matrimony to Franklin (Frank) Mays Sr. in 1955 and from this
union five children were born - Franklin (Butch) Mays Jr., Michael W. Mays, Cynthia D. Reid,
Gwendolyn D. Lucious and Carl A. Mays.
Marilyn was employed for over 20 years as a beautician at Bessie Hair Salon in Teaneck, New
Jersey. She later would work at the Radisson Hotel for 13 years as she loved to meet and talk
with people about an array of topics. Her favorite topics were politics and astrology. She wanted
everyone to know that she was "Taurus the Bull" and proud of it. She retired in 2008.
Marilyn was a generous and caring person. She would reach out to help anyone, at times giving
all she had whether it was food, water, money or just a place to lay your head for a good night of
sleep. She enjoyed taking care of her grandson Carl A. Mays Jr. affectionately called "Scooter."
She unselfishly gave all of herself to care for him. When asked to describe herself, Marilyn said
" I am patient, loyal, emotionally stable, dependable, sweet, calm, determined, security oriented.
I can be possessive and stubborn but I know how to control that". She was all of those things
and so much more. She loved being with her sisters and they would do all sorts of things
together- dancing, laughing, traveling and Marilyn loved working her magic on their hair.
She was predeceased by her sons Franklin (Butch) Mays and Carl A. Mays and her siblings
Estelle L. Pebbles, Otis B. Arrington, Charles L. Arrington, Julia Dennis, Annie M. Peterson and
Adelle E. Graves.
She leaves to cherish her wonderful memories, Michael W. Mays (Patricia), Englewood, NJ,
Cynthia Reid (Reginald), Teaneck, NJ, Gwendolyn Lucious, Teaneck, NJ, 11 grandchildren, 13
great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren, sister Shirley Trotter (Virginia Beach, VA.) 5
sister-in- laws, 5 brothers-in-laws and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.