Lee Trawick
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
On Monday, Nov. 6, Timothy Andrew May passed away as a result of health issues. May was the proud father of six children and a loving husband to Erica May. He was a member of the Suwannee County Parks and Recreation Department for years. However, it was his time on the ball fields that he was known for, most notably from his coaching ranks.
May was born on Sept. 26, 1988, in Rockledge, Fla. However, he graduated from Suwannee High School in 2006. He married his high school sweetheart, and together, they began forming their family of six children.
May's passion for sports was a constant throughout his life, and he shared that passion with countless children in Suwannee County and the surrounding areas. After finishing high school, May hung up his playing cleats and quickly transitioned to coaching turfs. In 2008, he started his coaching career, which spanned 15 years and had a profound impact on the youth of Suwannee and the surrounding counties. During this time, May coached recreational league football, baseball and softball and was instrumental in creating the North Florida Pride travel softball organization. May also played a crucial role in constructing and coaching at Suwannee Middle School's softball field. He spent four seasons as a coach before gaining the position of head junior varsity coach and varsity assistant coach for one season. "There isn't anyone out there that could ever fill his role across the field from first base," Bulldogs varsity softball coach Greg Gabey said. "His impact on this program as well as the community and the countless young individuals he has influenced with not only softball but in multiple sports is incomparable." May and Gabey led the Bulldogs varsity softball team to a 14-9 record in his lone season with the Bulldogs.
Mayo legendary coach Edward Perry once said, "A coach's responsibility is to teach the kids on the field and impact their lives off the field." This is a responsibility May felt as a coach, as well. Although he has walked off the field for the final time, May's legacy will live on through the players he reached throughout his life.
There will be a celebration of life in honor of May at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the First Federal Sports Complex, located at 840 NE CR 400, in Live Oak. There has also been a "Timmy May Memorial Account" set up at First Federal Bank, located at 804 Ohio Ave. S, in Live Oak, to assist May's family during this time. In addition, shirts, bracelets and helmet stickers can be purchased at Sports Connection, located at 720 Howard St., in Live Oak; funds raised from these purchases will also go to the May family.