The Life & Legacy of Linda Faye May

Linda Faye May was born in Delhi, Louisiana to Mary McDowell, the oldest of four children. Linda was raised in Louisiana by her grandparents, Dollie and Oscar May, for 14 years before moving to Los Angeles, California to live with her parents, Mary and Gilbert McDowell, where she attended Markham Junior High School and David Starr Jordan High School where she met the love of her life, John McNeal Sr.

Linda and John went on to have 11 beautiful children, six girls five boys Latrice Jones, Jasmine, John, twin boys Terence and Tyrell, Sade, Simone, Mitchell, Melinda, Shannon, and Issac. They loved the outdoors and would always barbecue and go camping with her family where she would teach them survival skills. Linda loved cooking and baking cakes and peach cobbler and her famous gumbo. She was loved in her neighborhood; they called her mom and she loved helping displaced kids.

In 1996, Linda decided she wanted to continue her education and became a registered CNA through Bellflower Adult School. Linda worked hospice until she could no longer comfort her patients. So she decided to continue helping others by becoming a clerk for the Department of Public Social Services Office in Los Angeles on 108th and Central until she fell ill July 2004 and slept into a coma. Linda had been living in a convalescent home in San Dimas, California until was called home on Valentine’s Day. She is preceded in death by the love of her life, John McNeal Sr.

Linda is survived by her mother Mary McDowell, her 11 children, Latrice Jones, Jasmine, John, Terence, Tyrell, Sade, Simone, Mitchell, Melinda, Shannon, and Issac McNeal, 26 grandchildren, her two sisters Carolyn McDowell and Lenora Maxie, one brother Willie McDowell, her six nieces and nephews, 1 brother-in-law, and three sisters in-law, and a host of other family and friends.

We all loved Linda May and she will be missed dearly.