Zara Ann Mays

July 8, 1954 - July 24, 2020

Zara Ann Mays was born on July 8, 1954, to Cornell and Sadie Pettiford, in Detroit, Michigan. She was the fifth child of eleven children. Zara was educated in the Detroit Public School system, (DPS). She also worked for DPS in Food Services for over 30 years. She always took pride in her work and fixed the meals as if she was feeding her own children. She wanted the students to enjoy the meals, which most always wanted seconds. She really enjoyed talking to the students and giving them advice and life lessons. She also enjoyed the people she worked with and thought of them as family. During the 1980s, Zara converted to Catholicism and remained a member up to her death, July 24, 2020. Her parents and her siblings, Alice, Shuntaye, Stanley, Freddie, and Ivanonna preceded her in death. Zara was a very private person, who enjoyed being at home, working in her yard or making changes to her home. She loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, siblings and friends. Most of the events she attended were with her children and grandchildren. She would always say, “seldom visits may long friends.” She leaves to cherish her loving memory; Ursula Lorraine Mays, (Joseph), O’Shea Renard (Kim) Mays, Shannon Kara Mays, (Brian), grandchildren; Curtis, Zaria, Zoey, Lyric, Tristan, Kamari, Serenity. Ke’Armani, Crytrina, Shayla, Maleeq, Lashea, O’Shea and Malachi, great grandchildren; Zaila, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.