Ebba Ree Mays

Ebba Ree Mays passed away on September 16, 2023. She was born on August 15, 1937, in Rutherford County, North Carolina to the late Allison Hines and Reola McCraw Hines. As a young girl, Ebba read a biography of Clara Barton and decided to follow the nursing path off the farm where she was raised. A graduate of Spartanburg School of Nursing, Ebba moved to Atlanta in 1960 and worked for Emory Hospital at Grady Hospital. Later in life, Ebba was a private nurse and worked with chronically ill infants and children. She never met a baby she didn’t love. Ebba met her future husband Dan on a blind date in the mid-1960s. While Dan knew immediately that she was the one for him, she took a little convincing (his words!). Married in 1966, they raised two children (Tasha and Tim) and traveled the United States, taking in as many rock-hunting side trips as Ebba would allow. They lived happily together until Dan passed away in 2007. Not a day passed that she didn’t miss the love of her life. Although a skilled nurse, Ebba could easily have had an award-winning bakery. Ask any of the many nieces and nephews who received bundles of sweets each Christmas so they’d remember “Aunt Ebba.” Ebba loved a good estate sale and always looked for the most interesting treasure. She was the treasure, of course. She was predeceased by her husband Daniel Roger Mays, her brothers Merlin Hines, Gene Hines, and Jack Hines, sisters-in-law Margaret Hines and Irene Hines, niece Lynne Hines, and nephew Mike Hines. She is survived by her loving children Tasha and Tim Mays, son-in-law Brent Speer, siblings Marlin Hines, Miles (Nancy) Hines, Carolyn (Albert) Kinney, Darlene (Tommy) Caldwell, and Randy (Susan) Hines, so many nieces and nephews, honorary grandchildren, and a wealth of friends. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 22nd at 2 pm at the Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, preceded by a visitation at 1 pm. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Ebba Ree Mays

August 15, 1937 - September 16, 2023