Freda Mae Mays Program

Celebration of Life

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Freda Mae Mays

Sunrise Sunset
March 24, 1936 March 30, 2020

PARTING VIEW

Monday, April 6, 2020
11:00 a.m.

Cortner Chapel
221 Brookside Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373

MEMORIAL CELEBRATION SERVICE
INTERMENT

Monday, April 6, 2020
1:00 p.m.

Desert Lawn Memorial Park
11251 Desert Lawn Drive

Calimesa, CA 92320

OFFICIANT - PASTOR WADE FORDE

MEMORIAL CELEBRATION
GRAVESIDE SERVICE

Processional
Pastor and Family

Opening Scripture - 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
Alyssa Williams, Beloved Granddaughter

A Love Letter to Our Mother
Freda A. Mays, Beloved Daughter

Prayer of Comfort
Cortez Jordan, Beloved Grandson

Words of Inspiration - Eulogy
Pastor Wade Forde

Fifth Street Seventh Day Adventist Church
Perris, CA

Solo - “I Dream” Medley
Cortez Jordan, Beloved Grandson

Closing Scripture - Romans 8:35, 37-39
Evan Pea’Ches, Beloved Grandson

Recessional - Parting Love

Interment

OBITUARY

Freda M. Mays was born on March 24, 1936 to Ferdinand
and Ruth Brockington in Kansas City, Missouri. She had
two brothers, Donald and Phillip Brockington and, sister
Ruthie Brockington. Her father was a contractor and her
mother was a homemaker. The family was one of the first
African-American families to purchase a home on “Struggle
Hill”, an up and coming neighborhood in Kansas City. In
high school, Freda Mae Brockington was one of the first
dark-skinned majorettes at Lincoln High School. That was the
beginning of her becoming a groundbreaking woman.

She married at a young age and had six children with her first
husband, Major Birdwell. She later married two more times
and had four additional children. Freda Mae was an
ambitious woman who strived to make a good life for her
children. She worked as an accountant for Trans World
Airlines; this provided her with many opportunities to travel
the world. She took her elderly parents on their first plane
trip, and her children traveled with her to explore the world.
There were very few cities in the United States that she had
never visited. She traveled internationally to Athens, Rome,
Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas.

In 1980, she packed her car and with her two younger
children, drove alone to San Diego, California to start a new
life. Freda didn’t know anyone in California but wanted a
new start in San Diego because of its beautiful beaches. Her
adult children were soon to follow her to the west coast. In San
Diego, she worked for El Cajon Unified School District and
Grossmont Unified School District. She also had a long
career in city government at the City of San Diego until she
retired.

She enjoyed going to the horse races and was very lucky. You
could find her at Mission Beach in San Diego reading her
newspaper. She loved Sea Port Village in San Diego where she
would take her grandchildren to ride the carousel. Freda loved
music with some of her favorite artists, Johnny “Guitar”
Watson and Bobby “Blue” Bland. And her wine of choice was
white zinfandel.

Freda is preceded in death by her two sons, Marvin and
Donald Birdwell and her daughter, Helen Diane Jordan and
grandson, Tyrone Birdwell. They will greet her at the gates of
heaven. She is survived by her daughters, Brenda
Smotherman, Freda A. Mays, Earline Acoff, Schenita
Birdwell, Monica Williams, Marilyn Mays and her son, Terry
Birdwell.

Her grandchildren - Steven Avery, Evan Pea’Ches, Alyssa
Williams, Kalvin Wigfall, Patrick Wigfall, Devon Alston
Mays, Earl Alston Jr., Marvin Stuart Jr., Maurice Birdwell,
Pamela Birdwell, Donald Tyrone Birdwell, La Carlos Cortez
Jordan, Terry J. Birdwell, Tevon Chavez Douglas.

Her great grandchildren - Jaide Lusk, Jeremiah Hines, August
Grace, Prince Ekyain Pea’Ches, Ava Carney, Blake Carney,
Eden Alston, Aven Alston, Kyra Alston, Maurice Birdwell Jr.,
Maurironna Birdwell, Endaca Hert, Jamar Stuart, Marvin
Stuart Jr., Marcus Stuart, Tyriana Birdwell, Treasure
Birdwell, Jessiah Stuart, Khamdon Stuart, Noah Land.

Nieces - Wanda Wortham and Belinda Thierry. Nephews
Matthew Thierry and Gregory Thierry. Great Nieces - Deshai
Turner and Alaysia Turner.

Her legacy runs deep. She will be missed. Rest in Heaven,
Amazing Matriarch.

A Love Letter to our Mother

Dear Mother

You are a phenomenal woman. You have shown us the
power of love since we were little children. When we were
younger, we did not always understand your protective
nature, your standard of making sure we were well
educated, and that we learned what it meant to be
upstanding people. You raised college educated, career
minded adults to become law enforcement and business
professionals, school district and government employees
who followed in your footsteps.

You taught us to never take “no” for an answer, to stand up
for what we believe in and to challenge the status quo, to be
a pit bull when needed. We learned to battle with our
words, to speak eloquently and to strive to accomplish our
goals.

You took us to faraway places to experience life. We traveled
with you and you created that desire in us to live well, work

hard and play harder. If we found ourselves in trouble, if we
found ourselves in need, if we found ourselves brokenhearted,
you were right there by our side.

And you were hilarious! You were so funny. You told the best
stories and could exaggerate with the best of them. We laugh
to this day at all the great memories and one-liners you have
left us with. And you were famous for nicknaming your
grandchildren. “Stevie Weevie”, “Weepy”, and “LuLu” to
name just a few. Your grandchildren adore you.

Some of greatest times with you were just sitting around and
talking. You always taught us how to party. Your love of
music kept us dancing. You were the best mother. You were
smart, intelligent, feisty, strong, hardworking, caring and
you were ours. Thank you for the love, the guidance and the
power you walked in and for being you.

Love,

Your Family

PALLBEARERS
L. Cortez Jordan
Evan Pea’Ches
La Clifton “AJ” Grace
Jeremy McMilan

Clifton Grace
Luis Valenzuela

Expressions of Appreciation
We can never express in words how much the prayers and
kindnesses of family and friends have comforted us
during this time of loss. We are grateful to the medical
staff for caring for our loved one and to everyone who has
supported us from a distant during this time. We trust,
with your help, our strength will increase more and more
as we reflect on the life of our loved one. Thank you!

SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO
Cortner Chapel Funeral Home

221 Brookside Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373

909 793-2353