Eugene Mays, Jr. was born June 9th, 1936, in Lamar County, Georgia to the late Eugene Mays, Sr. and Jossie Barnes Mays. Eugene was the fourth of eight children. He graduated from Booker High School in Milner, Georgia.

After high school, he served in the Army for 2 years. After the military, he migrated to Atlanta, Georgia where he met Louise Reid. In 1964, he relocated to Washington, D.C. and married Louise Reid Mays which begat two children.

Throughout his life in Washington, D.C. he was a Special Police Officer, a health technician for homeless substance abuse patients under the care of the District of Columbia. He became a mason and served in the capacity of deacon at various churches in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2016, he moved back to Griffin, Georgia and was ordained a deacon at New Hope Baptist Church, where he served faithfully over the years. He spent many, if not all of his days at the Spalding County Senior Center and daily check-ins on his cousin Lela Jester.

On May 30th, 2025, Eugene Mays, Jr. was called to his heavenly home.

Eugene was preceded in death by his sisters Margaret Mays of Barnesville, Georgia, Hattie Gardner of Atlanta, Georgia, Marie Pass of Atlanta, Georgia and Lula Hollis of Fayetteville, Georgia.

He is survived by his daughter Carol Mays; son: Reginald Mays; grandsons: Elijah Mays and Rashad Mays of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; sisters: Catherine Mays of Atlanta, Georgia, Lillian of Kansas City, Kansas, Mattie of Danville, Virginia; along with a host nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, other relatives, church family, civic organizations and friends.