City of Flint mourns loss of Councilman Eric Mays
FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - Longtime Flint City Councilman Eric Mays died on Saturday. He was 65.
In a statement from the City of Flint, officials said the third-term councilman was, “beloved for his bold and courageous service on behalf of Flint’s First Ward and his strong presence will be deeply missed. Our prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire city of Flint during this time of sorrow.”
Former Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said he wasn’t perfect, but he was passionate.
“Was he controversial? Yes,” Weaver said. “But he was bold, he was unapologetic and he wasn’t afraid and he wasn’t scared to speak up and speak out.”
Mays was beloved for his boldness for helping the people of Flint.
Weaver recapped their time together, saying Mays fought hard, and the two aligned on many issues.
“He was a fighter, he was a true fighter and so you knew if he was fighting with you, you knew you had someone who would really have your back and we were usually on the same side,” Weaver said. “You know, someone said you two were a couple, and I said we were, because we fought for the same issues. We might have fought differently for those same issues, but we were always pushing for the same issues.”
Former Flint Mayor Dayne Walling agreed.
“He was always for the underdog,” Walling explained. “He had a sense for what this community kind of truly needed when he went out and talked to people door to door and then he would come down here and just let everybody have it! There was a lot of truth in what he’d say, there were some funny anecdotes and stories and you just knew it all came from this big heart that he had for Flint.”
Mays’ death leaves behind shock and mourning throughout the community.
“It was devastating to get the news,” Flint City Councilman Quincy Murphy said. “We didn’t always agree, but we respected each other’s opinion and we did try to work together on some commonalities on some things that we thought were good for the city.”
Mays is remembered most by his friends and colleagues for his colorful personality, drive, and strong positions on many issues in Flint.
“Speaking up about the water, speaking up about the settlement and the unjustness and unfairness of this settlement, speaking up about these ARPA dollars, I mean there are so many things that the community will miss him speaking up and speaking out about,” said Weaver. “I’m going to miss that, but I’m going to miss the fun that we had, because he was a friend and you know, it’s funny, a lot of people have sent me videos of Eric and I dancing. I said I guess we did dance a lot!”
Walling extended his condolences to Mays’ family.
“I got to know Eric Mays when I first ran for mayor all the way back in 2007 and he was a community activist at heart,” Walling said. “All of us just give our deepest condolences to the Mays family and all of his many, many friends who were close to him. Know that this community will never forget his big heart and his incredible service.”
The flag at Flint City Hall will be lowered to half-staff in his honor beginning Monday, February 26.
Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley is asking for the community to respect the privacy of Mays’ family at this time.
“This is a tremendous loss for our community and a shock to all friends and family,” Neeley said. “Allow them time and space to mourn; we continue to lift the family in prayer.”
Mays’ cause of death is still unknown at this time.
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