December 3, 2025, Goldsboro — Maye Spivey Gurley Myers, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center, surrounded by the love of family, friends and her minister.
A service to celebrate Maye’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2025, in the sanctuary of Saint Paul Methodist Church, Goldsboro, North Carolina, with Reverend James H. Harry officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Private entombment will take place at Wayne Memorial Park.
Born in Kenly, North Carolina, Maye was the daughter of the late John Maynard and Mary Caroline Mitchell Spivey. Maye was an active and faithful member of Saint Paul Methodist Church. She found purpose in her church community through the J. Paul Edwards Sunday School Class and through her service on the bereavement committee, as an office volunteer, and as a member of the altar guild and prayer team. She also served on the administrative board and led her church circle, giving generously of her time and care to her congregation.
Having received her early education in the Kenly Public Schools, Maye went on to graduate from Atlantic Christian College with a degree in business. Maye began her career with the Wayne County Health Department in 1956 as a Clerk-Typist III. Over the course of 35 years, she advanced to Clerical Unit Supervisor V and Administrative Officer II. She was appointed Acting Health Director in 1986 and became Health Director in 1987. Maye retired in September 1991 after decades of dedicated and compassionate service in public health, including five years as the local health director of the Wayne County Health Department.
Maye was a member of the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA), the Eastern District NCPHA, and the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors. She was honored to serve as the first President of the North Carolina Local Public Health Management Support Supervisors Association and was an active member of the Legislative Committee and Policy Planning Committee of the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors.
Throughout her distinguished career, Maye received numerous honors and awards for her service in public health, including the esteemed Watson S. Rankin Award. Beyond her professional achievements, she devoted herself to a wide range of civic and health-related organizations/committees, among them the Wayne County Council on Aging and the county personnel committee. She was also a long-term member of Goldsboro Chapter No. 54 of the Order of the Eastern Star. Her dedication to community care and public service extended well beyond her workplace, enriching every area of her life.
Maye’s family fondly remembers her gifts for gardening and cooking. She loved to grow and share her beautiful flowers and delicious tomatoes with family and friends. She delighted her loved ones with her cooking and baking, including family favorites such as her beef ribs, Watergate salad, seven-layer salad, red velvet cake, cheesecake, black walnut pound cake, chocolate fudge and peanut brittle, just to name a few! And if she heard snow was on the way, she would run and put out her special “snow bowl” and made the best snow cream ever! Maye had a deep love for animals, especially dogs, and cherished her beloved companions, Bumper and Scooch.
Known for her fun-loving, take-charge spirit, Maye was always ready to roll up her sleeves and get things done. Whether directing family weddings, organizing community or church events, or being listed in the newspaper as “serving the punch” at social functions, she was a natural organizer and doer who could be counted on to make things happen with warmth, humor and care. Her life was marked by devotion to her faith, her family, her community and to the health and well-being of others. Her legacy of service, leadership and quiet strength will continue to ripple through the lives she touched.
Maye is survived by one sister, Gloria Spivey Cooner of Holly Springs, North Carolina; one stepdaughter, Patrice Strickland (Jim) of Beaufort, North Carolina; two stepsons, Russell William Myers III (Margaret) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and David William Myers (Nancy) of Wake Forest, North Carolina; six step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by nieces, Karen Moore Mercer (Danny) of Wilson, North Carolina, Beverly Trammell Noble (Paul) of Melbourne, Florida, Lisa Trammell Dissinger (Ray) of Tucson, Arizona, Anne Moneyhun Harrison of Melbourne, Florida, Donna Trammell Phillips (Jeff) of Melbourne, Florida, Julia Perry Lassiter (Rick) of Holly Springs, North Carolina, and Mary Perry Swick (Mickey) of Melbourne, Florida; and nephews, John Trammell of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Robert Moore of Nahunta, North Carolina, Timothy Moore of Wilson, North Carolina, Donald Moneyhun (Romulo) of Melbourne, Florida, and Dale Moore of Kenly, North Carolina. Eleven great-nieces and nephews survive her: Caroline Mercer Sweezy, Elizabeth Gilstrap, Jarred Gilstrap, Tyler Dissinger, Evan Dissinger, Josh Harrison, Ryan Moore, Brandon Moore, Brandon Ballance, Connor Ballance and Austin Brymer, as well as many great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, other extended family members, and dear friends.
In addition to her parents, Maye was preceded in death by her husband Russell William Myers Jr., her first husband Thaddeus Ralph Gurley, sisters Marie Spivey, Juanita Spivey Moore and husband Bobby Moore, Lee Spivey Brown and husband Seymour Brown, Anne Spivey Moneyhun and husband Mike Moneyhun, Elizabeth Spivey Trammell and husband James “Jim” Trammell, brother-in-law David Cooner, and stepson Steven Williams Myers.
The family would like to extend a special “Thank-You” to Maye’s nephew by marriage, Roland Gurley and his wife, Sandra, for their devotion, love and support to Maye, providing steadfast care and presence that meant so much to her and to the family. The family also extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff and friends at Parkwood Village in Wilson for the love and kindness shown to Maye during her residency, and to the staff at Gentiva Hospice who assisted Maye during her last few months there.
They especially wish to recognize caregivers Cassandra Dublin, Shan Bynum, and Mary Burch for the loving care they provided to Maye during her last several months at Parkwood Village. In addition, the family sincerely thanks the staff and volunteers at Kitty Askins Hospice Center for the comfort and compassion given to Maye during her time there these past two months.
In the days before her passing, Maye shared with her chaplain at Kitty Askins that one of her prayers was for peace on earth. When asked by two of her nieces which Advent word she liked the most, she quietly whispered, “Peace.” And when asked her favorite Christmas carol, she softly replied, “O Holy Night – it’s so peaceful.” In this way, Maye’s message this Christmas season to all who loved her is one of peace, a reminder to cherish moments of love and connection, and to listen for the quiet blessings around us – “oh hear the angel voices.”
Per Maye’s request, in lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Saint Paul Methodist Church, 204 East Chestnut Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina 27530, or First Baptist Church, 311 Nash Street North, Wilson, North Carolina 27893.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
