Marie May

Marie May (August 16, 1935 – February 15, 2025) Marie May, passed away peacefully in her home in Lakeland, Florida, on February 15, 2025 surrounded by her loved ones. Born August 16, 1935 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to her loving parents, Earl and Nora Lee Martin. She was a true master of southern cooking, spending her days preparing homemade meals that brought family and friends together. Her food was made with love and her recipes steeped in tradition. If you’ve been lucky enough to try her famous Gumbo you know how special it was. She was known to make extra plates and walk them to her neighbors whom she was so fond of. She spread warmth and kindness one dish at a time. Never one to hold back, she spoke her mind with humor and honesty, always leaving those around her laughing. Beyond the kitchen, Marie had a deep love for books especially children’s literature. Affectionately known as “The Book Fairy,” she spent years collecting children’s books, often searching Goodwill and secondhand shops to donate to one-room schoolhouses. Her generosity became a lifelong mission donating books to one room school houses throughout the United States and local schools within her community. She founded The Book Fairy Learning Center in Henderson, Louisiana to help instill a love of reading in children. She is survived by her husband, Martin May of 67 years, daughters, Kim, May, Stephanie (Todd) Wall, granddaughters, Kobi (Chris) Knapp, and Lily Wall, grandson, Myles (Vanessa) Deming, great grandchildren, Brooks and Lyla Knapp, sisters, Patricia Sibille and Madeline Berggreen, and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her parents Nora and Earl Martin, senior and her brother Earl Martin Jr. She leaves behind a family who will forever cherish her love, wisdom, and humor. Her legacy lives on in the meals she cooked, the books she gifted, and the laughter she inspired. Marie was a dedicated member of Resurrection Church, where her funeral service will be held on Thursday February 27, 2025 at 12:30pm followed by a reception at Grasslands Golf and Country Club. In lieu of sending flowers, please donate to a school library, or St. Jude’s Hospital in her honor, ensuring that her passion for making a difference in children’s lives continues.

Marie May

August 16, 1935 - February 15, 2025