Mr. Spurgeon Floyd May

Spurgeon’s gallant and long struggle against Parkinson’s Disease ended on Sunday, May 28, 2017 at home with Jean, his wife of 50 years, by his side. He was born in Newton, MS on October 15, 1934 to Floyd May and Ruth McDonald May. He lived there all his childhood years. It was in Newton that he developed his work ethic. He had a daily newspaper route that covered the entire town and he did it on his bicycle until he earned enough money to purchase his first motorcycle. He eventually owned four more selling his last one in 2008. Spurgeon lettered three years in football and baseball at Newton High. His 1953 baseball team, on which he served as catcher, defeated the much larger Jackson Central High School for the state championship. Jean was there, but doesn’t remember noticing him. He played both offense and defense and Newton’s football team. One of his fondest and worst memories of football was the game Newton played against Jackson Central High when he prevented big Billy Kinard from making a touchdown by making an open field tackle, hitting low and lifting Billy off the ground. The result was Billy falling on top of him. We’re talking 200+ on top of 135 more or less. His gallant effort didn’t do much good as Central defeated Newton 55 to 0! Again, Jean was there watching it all, but she was a student at Central at the time, and it would be years before she knew Spurgeon. Leaving Newton right after graduation in 1953, Spurgeon came to Jackson where he held several jobs before beginning a long tenure at WLBT-TV where he worked as a studio cameraman on live shows and in the audio control room. It was from that control room that he threatened to throw out Rocky Marciano and his manager when they entered through an outside door unannounced one night without identifying themselves. Both men apologized to Spurgeon and then left. It wasn’t until they left that others in the control room asked Spurgeon if he knew who the man was, he didn’t, but then it probably wouldn’t have made much difference to Spurgeon anyway. It was at WLBT that he began what was to become his life’s work, cinematography. He began covering special events and NCAA football, primarily Ole Miss. He also was one of the first newsmen o reach the coast after Hurricane Camille, and received numerous letters of commendation of his coverage. In the late 1950’s and 60’s, he developed his love for racing. He owned several sports cars during that time which he raced in SCCA sponsored events in-state and across the southeast. He continued to pursue the sport by cultivating person contacts with several large racing teams the likes of Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, and John Mecom, Jr. (the original owner of the New Orleans Saints). His first ride in big-time racing was in a Blackwell Chevrolet sponsored Corvair which went on to win the only points Chevrolet earned with the Corvair. He ran at Sebring, Daytona (where Bobby Alliston co-drove with him), and other road courses across the Southeast. His next ride was in Formula Ford owned by Robert Harper of Harper Foundry in Jackson. He raced at Talladega, Daytona, Sebring and Charlotte where was involved in a fiery wreck that was widely covered by the Associated Press and shown on Wide World of Sports. He then raced a Formula Jr., a small version of an Indy style car, that was owned by local businessman, Joe Lucy who went on to field a car in the Indianapolis 500. Spurgeon was to have the opportunity to take his rookie test to drive the car at Indy, but the ride was “bought out” from under him by Peter Revson who later that year died in a race in California in the car. Spurgeon’s last ride was in a car he owned himself; a Cooper Indy car that Jack Brabham had used as a backup championship car. Although Spurgeon could not afford to field the car in the type of races he had been running, he did enjoy participating in trophy races across the country. His last race was at Colorado Springs in the Colorado Divide Raceway. He pitted next to Dickie Smothers of TV fame, who was mighty interested in the Cooper that he knew had a very powerful engine. Backtracking a little, Spurgeon left WLBT in 1971 to go to work for Governor Bill Waller as his official film and still photographer. The Clarion Ledger, at that time, accused the Governor of hiring his “own person PR man”. Spurgeon sometimes pulled double duty as a driver and security for the Governor who liked the way Spurgeon drove, FAST. He also served as security for Mrs. Waller and boys on occasion. He accompanied the delegation to El Salvador on a trade mission. In 1973, Spurgeon began his own film production company, Crossroads Productions. He filmed many events for the State’s Travel and Tourism Department, including Mississippi’s participation in the First Annual American Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. He produced the film each night and sent copies back to all Jackson TV station. He and his wife, Jean, jointly produced Mississippi’s Bicentennial Film in 1976 for the State Archives and History Department. He traveled to Rome, Italy where he covered the World Food Conferences. To Alaska, Cuba, Mexico and elsewhere filming the nationally syndicated Virgil Ward Championship Fishing Show and across the Northwest covering motorcycle racing. Crossroads filmed and produced political spots, local commercials and commercials for companies across the United States. Also in 1973, he began his four-year tenure shooting for NFL Films. His primary team was the New Orleans Saints, where he filmed every home game from the press box. He basically followed Archie Manning from Ole Miss to the Saints. He also shot other NFL teams on occasion. An accident resulting in a broken back ended his career as a fulltime cinematographer, but not his love for the work. He joined the Jackson Public School System in 1981 as Director of the Media Department, developing their long-distance learning channel, producing videos for teacher training and covering special events. He retired in 2000. In his retirement years, Spurgeon enjoyed participating in the Mississippi Cowboy Shooting Association, shooting staged events in full western gear. He and Jean also loved traveling with their dog, Dusty and an occasional grandchild or two in their motorhome. From a small-town boy with a great work ethic, Spurgeon went on the have his name known for his may accomplishment in a number of fields. He lived large, and loved every moment of it. He gave the Lord credit for his talents, and used them to the best of his ability always. Spurgeon is survived by his wife, Jean Barrett May; sons, Michael (Kim) of Vicksburg, Jeffory of Pearl, and Barry of Branon; six grandchildren, Erik, Jonathan, Amanda (Jason) and Sarah of Austin, Texas, Michelle of West Linn, Oregon, and Bethany of Brandon; and one great-granddaughter, Ruby; brother, Herman (Grace) of Chattanooga, TN and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care Spurgeon received over the years from his special caregivers, Becky Dole, Niki McGill and Barbara Caston. A Celebration of his Life will be held at Chancellor Funeral Home in Florence, MS. on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at a time to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you make a donation to the pantry at First Baptist Church of Florence, P.O. Box 70, Florence, MS 39073.