Dr. May Flewellen Mcmillan

Dr. May Flewellen McMillan of Macon died on Thursday, September 29, 2016. A native of Macon, she was the daughter of Eugene Charlton and Lula Flewellen McMillan. She was predeceased by her brother, Dr. E. C. McMillan, Jr., her sister in law, Genevieve Woodard McMillan, and her friend and caregiver, Patsy Lynn Malone. She received her A.B. from Wesleyan College, her M.A. from Columbia University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. She also studied at several other universities, including the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. A recipient of a prestigious Danforth Grant for doctoral study at a time when few women were considered for such grants, she was one of five women in the United States, along with fifty men, to be so honored. In addition to subsequent small grants from Mercer University and the University of Wisconsin, she also received a Dissertation Year Fellowship from the Southern Fellowships Fund. After teaching in the English Department at Mercer University for thirty years and serving part of that time as Chairman of the English Department, she retired in 1986 as Emeritus Pollock Professor of English. She also taught ten years elsewhere: one year at the Bibb School in Columbus, Georgia; four years in Alexander III elementary school in Macon; three years at Salem Academy, Winston-Salem, NC; one year at Miller Junior High School for Girls; and one year at the University of Wisconsin. She published a college textbook for advance essay writing entitled "The Shortest Way to the Essay: Rhetorical Strategies". A member of Vineville United Methodist Church and of the Edmund F. Cook Sunday School class, she served as church historian for two years and as president of the Ed Cook class for two terms. She was a leader of the Afternoon Bible Study for four years and taught classes in John Milton's poetry in the Wednesday Night Alive Program. She was a lifetime member of the Modern Language Association, The South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Soroptimist International, a service club, and of the Vineville Neighborhood Association. She is survived by three nieces and a nephew: Margaret McMillan of Macon, Eugenia McMillan of Macon, Julie McMillan Hollon (Jim) of Birmingham, and Charlton Douglas McMillan (Shari) of Los Angeles. Also surviving are three great-nieces, Erin Elizabeth Hollon Cooper of New York City, Olivia Genevieve Hollon Barfield (Mitchell) of Birmingham and Ella Catherine McMillan of Los Angeles; and two great-nephews, Charlton Ross Hollon (Holly) of Birmingham and Sean Austin Cookson McMillan of Los Angeles; and one great great niece, Elizabeth Eugenia Hollon. Chapel services will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the chapel of Hart's Mortuary Cherry Street. The family will greet friends following the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at 1:00PM Central Time on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Fairview Cemetery in Eufaula, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vineville United Methodist Church, Ed Cook Scholarship Fund, 2045 Vineville Ave., Macon, GA 31204. Register online at www.hartsmort.com. Hart's Mortuary and Crematory on Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.

Visitation will follow service. Burial will be on Monday, October 3, 2016 at Fairview Cemetery, Eufaula, AL