By By Lowell McGill
Edith Cruitt Mays, one of Atmore’s oldest residents, passed away Wednesday at the age of 101.
The Atmore native was a retired teacher of home economics from the Escambia County School System having taught from 1947-1972 at Escambia County High School and a few years in the 1930s at McCullough High School.
Mays enjoyed activities at her church, Atmore First United Methodist. Bobby had lived with her at their South Presley Street home for a number of years. One other son, Jimmy, who is married to the former Judy Wright, has been a resident of Dallas for a number of years where he owns and operates a commercial construction firm. Judy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Wright, who were former residents of Atmore. Aubrey was also a retired Escambia County educator and served as principal of ECHS and Escambia County Middle School.
It was at McCullough School where Edith met her future husband, J.M. “Mac” Mays, who was also teaching classes.
Following their marriage “Mac” became affiliated with her father, Robert Cruitt, who was in the real estate business and who also founded Atmore Office and School Supply. “Mac” added a sports department to the business and it became one of the top suppliers of sports equipment to high schools in south Alabama. His annual “Mac Mays Fish Fry” drew hundreds of high school coaches and Alabama athletic officials for a number of years.
Countless women today remember her teaching them when they were students at ECHS and McCullough High School.
See obituary on page 5A.