He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by a large loving family including his wife of 55 years, Joan McClaine May; daughter, McDowell Winn (Charles) of Los Angeles, CA; son, Edward May (Leslie) of Chapel Hill, NC; five grandchildren, Katherine and Henry Winn and Hollister, Harrison and Reeve May; sisters Katherine May Hopkins (Ted) of Columbia, SC, and Gayle May Foster (John) of Charlottesville, VA; brothers John Sharpe May Jr. (Alice) of Chapel Hill, NC, and James Timothy May (Carole) of Greensboro, NC as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Henry was born in Greensboro, NC to Margaret Dixie Lyon May and John Sharpe May and raised in Burlington, NC. As a child, he enjoyed basketball and excelled in skeet shooting, becoming the NC Junior Skeet Champion. He attended Woodberry Forest School where he made many lifelong friends and played varsity soccer. After graduating in 1963, he went on to his beloved alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC he enjoyed a vibrant social life as a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Buck Taylor’s Mutton and Shoats, and Bean Birds. Most importantly, his junior year he met Joan, who he graduated with in 1967 and would go on to marry one year later in June,1968.
For six years after college, Henry served in the North Carolina National Guard, Old Hickory Division. He also went to work alongside his father and brothers in their family business, The May Apparel Group. Founded in 1946 by his grandfather, May Apparel was best known for their childrenswear line, Peaches n’ Cream. Henry became President of the company in 1981 and, later, served as CEO of the retail outlet stores.
Henry was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry and as a Sunday school teacher. He was a life-long Tar Heel fan, attending many basketball and football games in Chapel Hill. He enjoyed being on the water, either at his home at the NC shore, or on a sailboat in the islands. He loved to travel, run, golf and a good meal and those who knew him will remember, whatever he did, he always looked good doing it.
Most importantly, to the many that knew and loved him, Henry will be remembered as a kind, humble and exceedingly fair-minded person with a sharp wit and a love of friends and family. His memory will be cherished, and his presence will be missed.
A memorial service will be held on Friday October 20, 2023 at 2 pm at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 N. Green Street, Greensboro, NC. A private committal will take place prior to the memorial and a reception will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
