Attorney Joyce A. May

Attorney Joyce A. May, 57, of Warren, died Saturday, December 9, 2006 at home. She was born March 21, 1949 in Sebring, the daughter of Gerald and Alice (Boardman) May.

Attorney May was a graduate of Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University Law School. In 1978, she began her practice with the Warren law firm of Turner & Swift. She became a partner in what is now Turner, May & Shepherd in 1982, with offices in both Warren and Sebring.

In 1986, she became principal in the Chicago Title Agency of Trumbull County, Inc., and in 1990 became principal in the Mid-American Title and Escrow Company.

Attorney May belonged to the Ohio State Bar Association and its Elder Law Committee, Disability Law Committee, and its Board of Governors of Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section. She was admitted to the Bar of the State of Ohio, to the United States District Court and to the Federal Tax Court. She had been seminar chair of the 1995 Ohio State Bar Association convention, and was formerly a member of the Executive Committee of the Trumbull County Bar Association.

Her many civic activities included treasurer of the Campbell Apartments, Inc. (housing for the mentally ill); secretary of Sebring Kids, Inc. (pays for medical and dental care, food and clothing for indigent children); treasurer and former president of the Warren Lions Club; several offices with the Trumbull County Board of Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (1984-1992); the YWCA board of directors (1989-1992), and chair of its Public Affairs Committee; the American Association of University Women (1985-1990), for which she was legislative chair and chair of the mentoring group of non-traditional students at Kent State University; the Scholarship Disbursing Committee of the Frank F. Bentley Trust (1985-1990 and 1995-2000); chair of the Planned Giving Committee of the Arthritis Foundation (1979-1988); the Warren Library Association (1994-present); a member of the 1992 class of Leadership Warren, and a trustee and officer for Leadership Ohio (1996-2002); the Warren Area Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (2000-present), for which she served on the Board of Directors and was currently secretary; the Education, Civic & Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees, for which she was currently president; and the Kent State University - Trumbull Campus Board of Trustees (2001-present), for which she was serving as treasurer. In 1995 she was selected "Boss of the Year" by the Trumbull county Legal Secretaries Association.

Surviving are two brothers: Kenny (Ida) Roberts of Sebring, and Dr. Gerald (Blair) May of Jacksonville, Fla.; her good friends and law partners, Larry Turner of Lordstown, and David Shepherd of Poland; and the many, many others whose lives were enriched by her skills and compassion. Her parents preceded her in death.

Services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, December 14, 2006 at McFarland & Son Funeral Home, with Rev. Jim Bloom officiating. Interment will be at 3:00 PM Thursday at Highland Memorial Park in Beloit. Friends may call 4:30-7:30 PM Wednesday and 10:00 to 11:00 AM Thursday at the funeral home. Material contributions may be made to the Warren Lions Club, P.O. Box 251, Warren, Ohio 44482.

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland & Son Funeral Services Co., 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, Ohio 44481. Please visit www.mcfarlandfuneral.com to view this obituary and send condolences.