Mrs. Eleanor Rodman May, of Washington, died peacefully at home on Thursday, March 29, 2018. Mrs. May was born in Washington on May 23, 1944.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2018, at Oakdale Cemetery and will be officiated by Father Jim Reed.

She was the daughter of the late Archie Clark Rodman and Meredith Mills Rodman. She was also predeceased by a sister, Camilla Rodman Moore.

Mrs. May was a 1962 graduate of Washington High School and a 1966 graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in Spanish and Foreign Language. In the summer of 1962, she spent time living in Mexico, attending Saltillo Interamericana. In the summer/fall of 1963, she was presented to The Terpsichorean Club at the NC Debutante Ball. She spent the summer of 1965 working as concierge at the Coral Bay Club where she met her future husband, Louis Garris May, of Greenville. They were married May 20, 1966. They shared a love together of 47 years. He predeceased her in death on April 9, 2013.

Mrs. May is also survived by a daughter Camilla Rodman May of Raleigh. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her nephews, Rodman Clark Moore and wife Michele, of Germany, and Thomas Jordan Moore and wife Susan, of Rocky Mount. She is also survived by her nieces, Marilyn Brown Gibson and husband Jeff, of Greenville, and Catherine Brown Cox and husband Mike, of Greenville. Mrs. May is also survived by a sister-in-law Mary May Brown and husband Lester Zeno Brown, of Greenville.

Mrs. May was a gifted poet having written her first poem at 9 years old. She published throughout her life in certain literary works as The Crucible, Tar River Poetry, Rehearsals For Second Endings, Unlisted Numbers and Tug Boat Review.

In the late 1960s and early ’70s, Louis and Eleanor embarked on a journey in getting to know and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Eleanor loved the Lord with all her heart, mind and soul. She was a devout Christian and had a very special relationship with her precious Savior in Christ.

Special thanks go to Dr. Richard Young and his wife, Judy, to whom she enjoyed having over for wine and good conversation on various occasions. Special thanks also go to Melvin and Verna Smith and Tonia and Bernard Cox for being such devoted and loyal friends and caretakers for the May family these past 16 years. We are eternally grateful to all of the above for their guidance and assistance in helping make Mr. and Mrs. May’s daily lives as normal as possible.

The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Friday, March 30, 2018, located at the home 705 Shorewood Drive, Washington Park.

Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the May family.