Clemmie Mayes died on Feb. 26. He was 87.
Clemmie was born in Grady, Ala., on Sept. 13, 1921. He was the youngest of six children, born to Savannah and Herbert Mayes. One day, while in high school, he saw a beautiful young girl walk by the athletic field. Undaunted by the fact that he didn't know her, he proclaimed to his friends, "that girl is going to be my wife." As usual, he accomplished his goal. In 1945, Clemmie and Alezine Mayes were married in Detroit, Mich.
Clemmie felt called to become a minister and, a few years later, they moved to Anderson, Ind., where Clemmie attended Anderson College. Answering a call to serve, in November 1953, Clemmie and Alezine left Anderson to work as missionaries in the picturesque island of Bermuda. While there, they founded the Sound View Church of God and helped plant another church.
In 1957, they moved – with their two young sons in tow – to Southern California where Clemmie later pastored the 47th Street Church of God, in San Diego. After years of successful ministry there, in 1971 the family moved to the charming, beachfront city of Santa Barbara. They soon founded a ministry, and devoted their lives to serving people who were homeless or drug-dependent. Over nearly three decades, that ministry, called "Wings of Love," touched hundreds and hundreds of lives by sharing a hot meal, a warm embrace, and a message of hope.
In 2006, Clemmie moved from Santa Barbara to Portland to be closer to his family.
Clemmie is survived by a 95-year-old sister, Ruby May; sons Ahlem, Jonathan, Micah, John, Andrew, Dewayne and Ted; 18 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Services were held at Mt. Olivet Church on March 4. Graveside service was held on Friday, March 6, 2009 in Santa Barbara, California.
Services Entrusted to Cox & Cox Funeral Chapel.
