From Family Findings
Vol. VI, No. 3, July 1974, p. 89
Copyright, Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society, 1974
Appears on this web site by permission

RUBYE JOHNSON MAY
(MRS. HERBERT F.)
November 1890-May 1974

            The death of beloved Mrs. Rubye Johnson MAY, one of the founders of the Mid-West Tennessee Genealogical Society and its Director of Research, has shocked and saddened hundreds of people.

            She was the daughter of the late Rev. P. F. Johnson, first Dean of the Cumberland Presbyterian Seminary of Bethel College, McKenzie, Tennessee, and through her entire life she gave of her time and talents to her Church and was one of the finest Christian characters ever known. She had attended presbytery sixty-three consecutive times and had held many offices in her denomination, the Cumberland Presbyterian. She attended Bethel College, Memphis State Teachers College and was a graduate of the University of Missouri. She had taught history and english in Kansas and West Tennessee and other localities.

            Possibly no one in this section knew, or was more interested in the preservation of history and in genealogy than she. She had taught a class in genealogy at Jackson State College and also private classes. Her priceless library, her papers and notes have been donated to the Tennessee Archive Department and the Tennessee Room of the Jackson-Madison County Library. She was never too busy or too tired to help anyone who asked her. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. "Great was her faithfulness," was an expression used concerning her. Her life touched thousands of people and. made better individuals of them, and much history has been preserved and hundreds of family lines established because of her knowledge and helpfulness. She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Grace Beasley of McKenzie, Tennessee and a niece, Mrs. Marguerite Richards of Oklahoma.

            As an expression of our sincere appreciation for her many fine contributions and loyal dedication to our Society, we respectfully dedicate this issue of FAMILY FINDINGS to Rubye Johnson May.