Dr. J. Larry Mayo of Cumming, GA passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the age of 95. He was born in Pensacola, FL, September 9, 1921 to James Lawrence Mayo (1883-1969) and Lula Mae Tomkins Mayo (1887-1955). He primarily was raised at 1500 E. Lee St. in Pensacola. He was the youngest of three children, with a brother, Wallace Mayo and a sister, Ruby Mayo (later Sommermeyer).

In 1931 he made his profession of faith and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Pensacola. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1939. His lifelong passion for music began as he played trumpet in the high school band, sang in the glee club and sang bass in a special male quartet.

He attended the University of Florida from 1939 to 1943. There he maintained an interest in music participating in a men's quartet and in the university glee club. His major was in Arts and Science with an interest in Sociology. In 1941 he enrolled in university's Advanced ROTC program.

Active in the BSU at the University of Florida, he attended, during his freshman year, a BSU convention in Lake City, FL. While there, he stayed in the home of a pastor, William T. Halstead, where he met his future wife-to-be, Lucile. He married Lucile Halstead on December 28, 1944.

Upon graduation from the University of Florida in June of 1943, he immediately was inducted into the army and sent to Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually assigned to the 573rd Field Artillery Battalion. In 1945 he was sent to the Philippine Islands. At the close of World War II and awaiting his return to the States, he participated in an international chorus and sang in a number of concerts at various military bases. When his active military duty ended at the close of World War II, he retained a reserve commission, was promoted to Captain and served in the Chaplains Corps.

Called to the ministry, he graduated from The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree (later changed to a Master of Divinity Degree) in 1949, and earned a Doctor of Theology Degree (later renamed Doctor of Philosophy Degree) in 1952.

While still a seminary student, his first full-time pastorate was at Belmont Baptist Church, south of Louisville, in Lebanon, KY. Upon graduation from Southern Seminary, he was called to the First Baptist Church of Smithfield, NC (1952-1960). His next pastorate was at Warrington Baptist Church in Warrington, FL (1960-1980). From 1980 to 1990 he served as pastor of the Cutler Ridge Baptist Church in the south Miami area. All in all, he served as a pastor for 43 years.

Upon his retirement in 1990, he and Lucile moved back to Pensacola, where they lived 18 years in the Myrtle Grove area. In 2008, they moved to Cumming, GA to be with their eldest son. It was in January, 2011, that he lost his wife, Lucile, to leukemia. Larry and Lucile were lovebirds. Lucile was an ideal wife.  She was an immense help in his ministry, a devoted wife and a consummate mother. She, as an outstanding soprano and musical talent, contributed a birthright of music to her family and to each music ministry she was a part of. Larry and Lucile were utterly devoted to each other for their entire 66 years of marriage.

He is survived by three sons; Lawrence (Larry) William Mayo; Wallace (Wally) Halstead Mayo and David Lister Mayo. He had four grandchildren; Brittany Mayo Pomeroy; Abby Mayo Halladay; Ryan Mayo and Stephen Mayo. And, he had three great-grandchildren.

It can be said of him that he was a patient, strong, loving and soft-spoken man. His life was characterized as being Christ-like. He was a wonderful husband and father . . . and will be missed.

Memorial Visitation will be held 12:30pm until the Memorial Services to begin 2:00pm Friday, March 17, 2017 in the Pleitz Chapel at First Baptist Church. Private interment was held at Bayview Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Samaritan Hands, 500 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501.