Joyce Elaine Mays

Joyce Mays, 82 (Jan 7, 1942-July 10, 2024) of Louisville, Tennessee, passed away at her home on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Joyce was a devout Christian and lived thru God every moment of her life. This made her a wonderful spouse, mother, grandmother, friend and a devout servant to all that crossed her path. She loved her family to the moon and back and always the last one to eat at the table.

Joyce grew up in Lee, Illinois on a small corn farm which she saved enough money to purchase the remaining other half from her brother and keep her entire life. She was so proud of being able to continue that tradition. She got married, and after a few moves ended up in Martin, Tennessee where she began her love for the state of Tennessee and especially the Tennessee Vols. She cherished her time in Martin and focused on being a wonderful mother/spouse and joined the local John Deere sponsored softball team. She wore the “runs like a deer” logo proudly on her jersey and her sons were so proud to watch her trot around the bases after she had watched them play baseball all day.

She then moved to Gatlinburg, TN and a few years later was re-married to Jack Mays where they lived a magical and inseparable life for over 25 years. They loved Gatlinburg and would walk through town after work soaking in the Smoky Mountains. Together in Gatlinburg, they did many exciting things through multiple businesses. They first helped Hal Reagan develop and maintain hundreds of businesses and helped open the Opryland Show in town. Then opened Tickets/Tickets to sell passes for the Worlds Fair and other Sevier County attractions. Their biggest achievements were opening Smoky Mountain Winery and the Cellar which was the first winery in the state of Tennessee where they developed hundreds of friendships with tourists and other business owners. These businesses still thrive today and helped spur a whole new generation of wineries in town.

Joyce and Jack then moved to Louisville, TN to be closer to family and her son, Greg and Amber, built them a house overlooking the Tennessee River where they spent time with family and time boating on the water through their retirement years. Joyce was one of the most positive people you could ever run across always made you feel special. She found the best in every situation. Her friends became life long friends and never left her side. Anyone that knows her will miss her greatly and the world is losing a one of a kind great soul. We will try our best to continue your legacy and make you proud. We love you mom.

Survivors include her brother, Dick Scholl, son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Amber Classon (Grace, Hudson, Savannah) and son and daughter-in-law, Jon Classon and Stephanie Sloan (Emma).

She is preceded in death by-Jack Mays (husband), Lavina Johnson (mother), Josephine Johnson (grandmother).

Visitation will be on Saturday, July 20 at 1:00pm at Middlesettlements United Methodist Church located at 2729 Middlesettlements Rd, Maryville, TN 37801. A celebration service will be officiated by Reverend Magan Stubblefield at 2:00 pm with burial to follow at the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to Gatlinburg-Pittman High School-attn. Jack and Joyce Mays Scholarship Fund or Middlesettlements United Methodist Church.