Wilbur “Bill” Mais

An era has indeed passed. On January 14, 2010, our dear father entered eternity and into the presence of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He was one of a kind and the last family member of his generation. Bill was born to Eustice and Anna Mais on February 19, 1909 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was much loved by his children, his grandchildren, his many nephews and nieces, those he employed who needed a second chance in life, his friends and the marvellous staff at Mount Edward Court (Tannis,Wendy,Brenda, Bill, Maria, Khin, Sam , Colleen, Sabina & others, you know who you are) who cared for him as they would their own family. It’s true, there are angels on earth. Blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit, Bill went into business and opened Mais Electric in the early 1950’s. As his business prospered, he expanded into furniture and appliances, eventually selling the electrical contracting arm. He changed the name to Mais Furniture and Appliances and opened additional stores in Duncan and Ladysmith. After a long and successful career, he retired in 1975. Water baptized at 79 and arm wrestling his grandson to a draw at 95, he will be lovingly missed and remembered always by his daughter Diana (Nyna) Gillis (Mark); sons, Chris (Alice) and Larry (Nellie); grandchildren, Donovan, Danny, Joel and Alysha and great grandchildren, Dee and Aly. An Interment Service will be held at Royal Oak Burial Park on Monday, February 1st at 1:00 p.m. and a Memorial Service on Thursday, April 8th at l:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Flowers are nice, but a donation to a Haitian relief fund of your choice is better. “And just at the moment when someone at my side says “There he is gone”, there are other eyes watching and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: ” Here he comes” and that is dying – H. Van Dyke.