Fredrick Lockehart Mays, 95, died peacefully at home on Friday, July 21, 2023. Locke was born on September 20, 1927, at his home on Monroe Street in Columbia to the late Elizabeth Bruton Mays and Frederick Lockehart Mays.

He attended Columbia schools, graduating from Dreher High in 1945 and immediately enlisted in the Marine Corps, proudly serving during World War II and the Korean War. He attended the University of Georgia and the University of South Carolina, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He and his best friend, Hugh Wilson, headed to Chicago to buy a truck, flipping a coin to see who had to drive it out of the city. That was the beginning of a career in the trucking business: he bought G&P Trucking Company in the late 1970s, serving as chairman of the board and principal until he retired in 1986.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia for nearly 60 years, serving as a deacon, elder, and Elder Emeritus. He was a founding member of the Laurel Crest Retirement Center Board.

Locke enjoyed boating, restoring old cars and finding the best cheeseburger around. Over the years, he enjoyed spending summers in Black Mountain, NC, and Blue Hill, ME, especially driving his antique car full of grandchildren in the July Fourth parade.

Locke was kind and generous, a gentleman, and a well-loved husband who was blessed with two wonderful wives, Elisabeth Alexander Thomson of Charlotte whom he married in 1952; she died in 1975. In 1976, he married Miriam Miller Strickland; she died in 2020.

Survivors include his children, Beau Mary Mays of Swannanoa, NC; Elisabeth Mays Williamson (Benton) of Columbia, Amanda Mays Budd (Joe) of Winston-Salem, NC, Freddie Strickland Rodgers of Columbia, Joe Strickland (Margaret) of Awendaw, SC; Georgia Strickland of Santa Barbara, CA, and Leslie Strickland of Valdosta, GA. He was a beloved grandfather to 18 grandchildren and was delighted to have 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Mays Doty; a son, Frank Strickland, and son-in-law, Paul Rodgers.

The funeral service for Mr. Mays will be held at 11 o'clock, Tuesday, July 25th, at First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion St., Columbia, SC with Rev. Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas and Rev. David H. Lauten officiating. The burial will immediately follow in the churchyard. The family will receive friends in Jackson Hall at the conclusion of the burial.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Deacons Fund (which helps the needy) of First Presbyterian Church.

Locke's family is forever grateful to the many wonderful caregivers who helped in his last years, including Melissa, Sonaya, Ernestine, Loreatha, Thelma, and all the many others who cared for him so lovingly.