Audrey “A. C.” May, Jr., 88, was born July 2, 1933, to Helen Barron May and Audrey May Sr. in Shreveport, La. They moved to Little Rock, Ark., when he was an infant. Although he was an only child, he grew up with a lot of relatives around him. He graduated from Catholic Boys High School in 1951, where he excelled in every sport and was awarded a football scholarship to LSU. He played his freshman year but was sent to Hines Junior College his second year. He finished the Junior college and McNeese offered him a scholarship. While attending McNeese, he met the love of his life, Carol Holman. He played one year but hurt his back and had to drop out. He went home to Little Rock to recuperate and decided to join the U.S. Army. Although it was during the Korean War, he ended up in Germany, where he played football and traveled all over Europe. In February of 1956, his tour was complete, and he returned to the states. He moved to Lake Charles a month later and reunited with Carol Holman, who was teaching school in Kinder, La. They were married June 4, 1956. “A.C.” went back to McNeese and worked part time at Pelican Cigar and Candy Co. while he earned his degree in accounting. In 1964, he was able to buy the business and was President and owner for forty years. In the meantime, “A.C.” and Carol became the proud parents of one son and two daughters.
“A.C.” was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church for over sixty years. For twenty years, he was known as “The Candyman” because of the candy he would give every Christmas and Easter. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for fifty years and was a president in the 1980s. “A.C.” was also on the McNeese Alumni Board and the person representing the Athletic Board for ten years. He was a past president of the Southern Tobacco and Candy Association and a member for many years. He was also a member of “SCORE”, business membership, which ended during the Pandemic.
“A.C.” sold Pelican around 2000 and retired in 2011. His hobbies were sports and traveling, so he and Carol traveled most of the United States, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and ten countries in Europe.
They lost their home in Hurricane Laura and moved to Kingwood, Texas. They just moved back to Lake Charles in August of 2021.
“A.C.” passed away on June 8, 2022, at 6 p.m. with his family by his side.
Mr. May is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Carol H. May; son, Craig Michael May and wife Kimberly of Houston, Texas; daughters, Julie Kristen May Broussard and wife Susan Clark of Longville, La., and Christina Michele May Harvey and husband Jason of Humble, Texas; grandchildren, Jacob May, Molly Kirk and husband Ethan, Russell Broussard Jr. and wife Kristel, Reece Broussard and wife Andrea, Jacey Broussard, Janie Carol Broussard, Cade Harvey, Will Harvey and Rhyan Harvey; and great-grandchildren, Levi and Khloe Kirk, Lyric, Lewis and Logan Broussard, and Renesmee and Bentley Ashworth.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Audrey May Sr.
His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Monsignor James Gaddy and Father Keith Pellerin will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with tributes shared at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday from 10 a.m. until the start of the service.
Pallbearers for the service will be Jacob May, Russell Broussard, Reece Broussard, Cade Harvey, Will Harvey, and Ethan Kirk.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. May’s memory can be made to Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, McNeese Alumni Association, Second Harvest Food Bank, or any charity of your choice.
Words of comfort to the family can be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.