Jessie Glanton May

Resident of Foster City

Jessie Glanton May was born January 2, 1925 to Louise Hurley and Jesse Glanton in Newnan, Georgia. She was reared in University Homes, was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church and attended Booker T. Washington High School along with her Sunday and High School classmates, Christine King Farris and Mike King—who is better known to all as The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Miss Glanton became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s Psi Chapter while completing undergraduate studies at Clark College.

Jessie Glanton earned her bachelor’s degree from Clark in 1949. She taught kindergarten and home economics in Hogansville, Georgia for a year; however, her contract would not be renewed as a result of her infusion of Black history into her curriculum. In the summer of 1950, she returned to Atlanta, and while teaching vacation bible school at Ebenezer Baptist Church, she expressed to the pastor, Reverend Martin Luther King, Senior, her strong desire to attend Atlanta University’s School of Social Work despite her lacking financial resources. “Daddy” King graciously facilitated a full scholarship for her to attend Atlanta University.

Upon her graduation in 1952, Miss Glanton relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee to work for a non-profit adoption agency. While in Knoxville, she continued her involvement within a graduate chapter of her beloved sorority, served as the secretary of the local NAACP, and studied at Highlander Folk School, a training school for social justice.

In 1963, she relocated to Northern California to continue her career in clinical social work with the San Mateo County Child and Family Services where she met the man who would become her husband, Arthur May.

Mr. and Mrs. May made their home in Foster City, California and soon they had an addition to their family, their only child, Dr. Janel L. May. Their cherished daughter would follow in her mother’s footsteps by attending the merged undergraduate and graduate institutions of Clark-Atlanta University, and becoming a legacy member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Several decades after retiring, she would return to the East Coast to be with her daughter, who cared for her until she took her last breath.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Gloria Glanton Hurd and Leathia Hursey Browning; a brother, Eddie Hursey, and a step-son Roger V Wilson. She is survived by her loving daughter, a brother-in-law, two sister-in-laws, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many devoted friends.

Family and friends ae invited to attend the Funeral Service this Sunday January 27, 2019 starting at 2:00pm at St. James AME Zion Church located at 25 Monte Diablo Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401 where services will conclude.

PAID OBITUARY