Charles Parkhill Mays Jr

Charles Parkhill Mays, Jr., passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, April 13, 2025. In departing this world, he leaves behind a legacy as a devoted husband, beloved father and grandfather, respected friend, mentor, and community leader.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Mason Carmichael Mays, and his parents, Katherine Bell and Charles Parkhill Mays. He was born in Thomasville, Georgia, on January 10, 1936, at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Parkhill graduated from Jefferson County High School with high honors. He attended Washington & Lee University where he was the President of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and graduated with a B.A. in Economics, cum laude, in 1958. Parkhill graduated from the University of Florida College of Law, J.D., in 1961. He joined the United States Army, serving in the Artillery, Armor, and Judge Advocate General branches from April 1961 to December 1963, achieving the rank of Captain.

In February 1961, Parkhill married Mason Carmichael and shared his life with her for 62 years until her death in December 2023. Mason accompanied Parkhill while he served in the United States Army, and upon his discharge, the young couple moved to Tampa, Florida, as Parkhill started his law career. Parkhill and Mason moved to Lakeland in September 1964 where he joined Holland, Bevis, Smith & Kibler, which became Holland & Knight LLP, from which he retired in 2019.

Parkhill had the unique ability of finding a way to complete very complex legal transactions. He was doggedly determined to resolve issues whether in his estates practice or with financial deals. He was a scholar of the law throughout his many years of private and army practice. Parkhill continued his law career while managing the family lands in Jefferson County and its pine harvesting operations for a period of 25 years after the death of his father in 1981.

Parkhill was active in various civic and social organizations, including Board of Directors of Florida National Bank in Lakeland, Board of Trustees of GiveWell Foundation, Lakeland Economic and Development Council, Council of Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, Board of Directors of Lakeland Family YMCA, Washington & Lee University Florida West Coast Alumni Association, The Lakeland Country Club, Lone Palm Golf Club, Highlands Falls Country Club, and First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland (member of Session of Elders and past Chair of the Endowment Fund Committee).

In 2007, Parkhill published his memoirs, Proud Heritage, which is an autobiography of his life and the lives of his ancestors in Florida. As recorded in the book, Parkhill had a rich family heritage, including four generations in Florida on the Mays side, dating back to 1830 when Richard Johnson Mays, a Baptist minister and planter, came to Florida from Edgefield, South Carolina, settling in Madison County. On the Bellamy and Parkhill sides, the book documents seven generations in Florida, dating back to Abraham Bellamy who surveyed and established the City of Jacksonville in 1828, and John Parkhill who immigrated from Ireland to Richmond in 1800. Proud Heritage was followed in 2020 by Stories Untold, authored by Parkhill’s granddaughter, Laura Mays. Stories Untold is a continuation of the history of the Bellamy, Mays, and Parkhill families. The book includes a dedication by Laura to her grandfather.

Parkhill is survived by his four children - Charles Parkhill Mays, III, and his wife, Lisa, and their children, Laura (fiancé, Kevin Ryan) and Elizabeth; Katherine M. Hamp and her husband, Thorsten, and their son, Joshua; Dr. Brooks Bellamy Mays and his wife, Kathryn, and their children, Caroline, Brooks Jr., and Robert; and Sara M. Nastopoulos and her husband, John, and their children, Elizabeth and John Jr.

We wish to thank Parkhill’s caregivers, Lila Schultz, Teresa Stanley, Kym Wilkerson, and Shereaka Jones for their years of care and love to Parkhill and also to Mason. We also want to thank Kevin Witte for always checking in on Parkhill and the house and providing repair and support, even during hurricanes. We also want to recognize the countless friends who were like family to Parkhill and Mason during their six decades in Lakeland. Especially in the past year since Parkhill lost Mason, these friends never stopped visiting and taking care of Parkhill. We are deeply grateful.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 11 am, with reception following at the church. A private graveside service will be held at Roseland Cemetery, Monticello, Florida, the following day.

Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801, or to the charity of one’s choice.