Willie James Maye Jr., a career educator who served as a teacher, principal and an elected member of the Birmingham Board of Education, died July 3 at the age of 88, school officials and longtime colleagues said. Maye represented District 6 on Birmingham’s first elected board from 2002 to 2013, serving multiple terms as vice president and president.
Decades of classroom and boardroom service
Maye’s work in Birmingham City Schools spanned the classroom and system leadership. Birmingham School Superintendent Mark Sullivan said Maye “gave so much of his life to the children and families of Birmingham, first as an educator and then as a board leader.” Sullivan added that Maye’s “leadership and compassion left a lasting mark on Birmingham City Schools.”
Colleagues and community members pointed to Maye’s steadfast advocacy for students and neighborhoods. Roderick Royal, who grew up in Tabernacle Baptist Church where both men were members, recalled Maye as “the personification of an educator, all about students.” Royal described Maye’s persistence when the board sought city approval to build a new school in the Wylam neighborhood, saying Maye “was not going to take no for an answer and he was willing to take plan B.”
- Age at death: 88
- Service on board: 2002–2013 (District 6)
- Roles: Vice president and president of the Birmingham Board of Education
Local ties and personal impact
Beyond public meetings and policy debates, Maye maintained deep personal ties in the community. Royal said Maye continued to check in on Royal’s homebound mother, an example Royal cited of Maye’s consistent personal commitment to neighbors. Those everyday acts accompanied more public efforts to advance school construction and resources in Birmingham neighborhoods.
“Maye was the personification of an educator, all about students.” — Roderick Royal
Maye’s career coincided with a period of change for Birmingham City Schools, including the transition to elected school board governance. His tenure on that first elected board placed him at the center of decisions that shaped school facilities and policies across the district.
Remembering a community leader
Former students, colleagues and residents offered memories of Maye this week as the city honored his decades of service. Superintendent Sullivan emphasized Maye’s belief in public education’s power to transform lives, a theme that colleagues say guided his time as both educator and board member.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Willie James Maye Jr. |
| Date of death | July 3 |
| Age | 88 |
| Board service | 2002–2013 (District 6) |
As Birmingham reflects on his contributions, current and former leaders say Maye’s blend of classroom experience and civic engagement is an example for those who follow. His work to secure resources for schools and his long record of personal outreach remain part of his legacy in the city’s education community.
