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A true Flintstone: A look at the life of Eric Mays through pictures
- Updated: Feb. 26, 2024, 4:15 p.m.
- |Published: Feb. 26, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
FLINT, MI — A Flint leader like no other, Eric Mays had a bold, unwavering voice, and he stood up for his city and more specifically Flint’s first ward until his last breath.
Mays, 1st Ward councilman, was a political lightning rod who represented some of the city’s poorest people.
He died Saturday at 65, leaving a legacy of fearless advocacy, in-your-face politics, and a common touch that rang true with voters who elected him three times to represent their interests in Flint City Hall.
Related: Tributes pour in as death silences Flint Councilman Eric Mays’ bold, unwavering voice
The son of a pastor, Mays was one of nine children of the late Rev. Louis H. and the late Rosie B. Mays.
He graduated from Flint Northern High School and Michigan State University and retired from General Motors, where he honed his political skills as a district committeeperson and recording secretary for local unions of the United Auto Workers.
Mays’ political strength grew over the past decade and he gained a national social media following thanks to viral videos that featured his confrontations with other council members.
First elected by just a seven-vote margin in 2013, he was the longest-serving member of the current council and organized committees to run for mayor in 2008, 2015 and 2022.
Mays died while serving a 90-day suspension for conduct unbecoming a council member, a punishment he maintained was unjust and which he fought against until his death.
Read more: Flint City Councilman Eric Mays dies
Click here to go through the gallery above to see more photos of Eric Mays’ career and life in Flint. Scroll below to view photographs that showcase his impact on Flint.
Eric Mays helps Mildred Wallace of Flint (left) with a voter registration card for her son at the MTA bus station in downtown Flint on Tuesday morning, April 5, 2005. Eric Mays and his allies are attempting to collect 10,000 signatures to force a recall election for Mayor Don Williamson. (Jane Hale | The Flint Journal)Jake May | MLive.com
Dora Stron, of Flint, is consoled by Flint Councilman Eric Mays, of the first ward, as she holds up and candle and weeps after a group prayer during a vigil for Donald Arnold in Flint on July 9, 2014. The vigil was held for Donald Arnold, who was killed Monday in a hit and run near the intersection of Martin Luther King Avenue and Ruth Avenue. "I feel like I lost a part of me, because that's my best friend", said Stron. (Laura McDermott | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Eric Mays, 1st Ward councilman, listens on as 9th Ward councilwoman Eva Worthing speaks during the city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at Flint City Hall. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, 1st Ward, looks at dozens of full plastic gallon containers used for gathering water from a nearby cemetery while in the home of resident George Hensley on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Ambassador East mobile home park on Flint north side. Residents are living without water and seeking help from Flint City Hall. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
City Councilman Eric Mays speaks to Veolia Water representatives as well as City Council about his strong disappointment regarding Veolia's recent water report during a City Countil Meeting at Flint City Hall in downtown Flint on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. "We wanted good water yesterday," Mays said. (Brittany Greeson | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint Councilman Eric Mays poses for a picture with Flint boxer Claressa Shields as she returns home after winning her second gold medal during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 at Bishop International Airport in Flint. Shields is the first U.S. Olympic boxer to win two gold medals. (Tegan Johnston | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, a mayoral candidate, protests among more than 120 people who rally together at Flint City Hall for lower prices and better quality water July 10, 2015, which finished a weeklong march of a journey that brought together protesters from Flint, Detroit and points in between. Protesters marched from Woodside Church to City Hall for the conclusion of the Water Justice Journey, which started Friday, July 3, in Detroit. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint Councilman Eric Mays holds a press conference to discuss the overgrown grass throughout the First Ward and at Hilborn Park in Flint, Mich. on Wednesday July 15, 2015. (Christian Randolph | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Genesee Circuit Judge Archie Hayman dismissed a lawsuit filed by Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, which sought to show he filed at least 900 valid signatures by the April 21 deadline for the 2015 Flint mayoral ballot, on Monday, June 1, 2015 at Genesee County Circuit Court in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Candidate Eric Mays, center, answers questions in front of a crowd of about 60 people during the Flint mayoral candidate forum Thursday, July 30, 2015 at the White Horse Tavern in Flint, just days before the primary election. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
A Genesee County Sheriff Deputy handcuffs Flint City Councilman Eric Mays as he is detained during his sentencing on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 at Genesee District Court in downtown Flint, where visiting Judge Richard D. Ball sentenced Mays to 28 days in jail for an impaired driving incident which occurred in November 2013. A jury convicted Mays, finding him guilty of impaired driving in November 2015. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
After being sentenced to 72 days in jail and ordered to pay the city ,800 in restitution in the morning, Flint City Councilman Eric Mays returns to court for an appeal bond request before Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farah on Aug. 15, 2014 in Flint. Mays must pay a ,000 bond, cash or surety, and if the bond is raised, Mays will be released with conditions of no driving and house arrest. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays weeps in the arms of Flint residents Alonzo Laster, left, and Tony Palladeno Jr. upon his release from Genesee County Jail at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 in downtown Flint. Mays was sentenced to jail on Jan. 5 for 28 days for impaired driving -- a case in which police said they found the elected official outside a disabled car, facing the wrong way on the expressway more than two years ago. "I'm just glad to see all the friends and people who've been protesting on the ground with me when I come out." Mays said. "That's what touched me. I never shed a tear going in, but to see people coming out, that touched me.” (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays prepares to dig into his first meal after being released at about 12:30 a.m. from Genesee County Jail on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 at Starlite Diner & Coney Island in Burton. Mays' first meal was made up of a six-ounce steak, two full slices of Texas toast, scrambled eggs and french fries topped with A-1 Steak Sauce, Heinz Ketchup, salt and pepper and served with a tall glass of lemonade. Mays was sentenced to jail on Jan. 5 for 28 days for impaired driving -- a case in which police said they found the elected official outside a disabled car, facing the wrong way on the expressway more than two years ago. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays lights up his first cigarette in more than three weeks after being released from Genesee County Jail at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 in downtown Flint. Mays was sentenced to jail on Jan. 5 for 28 days for impaired driving -- a case in which police said they found the elected official outside a disabled car, facing the wrong way on the expressway more than two years ago. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays stands with pastors, water activists and an attorney at the steps outside of the Genesee County Circuit Court in Flint after filing a lawsuit Friday, June 5, 2015, that alleges the city "recklessly endangered" the health and safety of its residents when it stopped purchasing drinking water from Detroit and began treating Flint River water as its primary source. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays leans onto the chair of Flint Mayoral Candidate Karen Weaver as more than 60 gather listen to doctors call for a public health advisory in relation to Flint's water woes, urging city residents in high risk groups - which include infants on formula and pregnant mothers - not to consume or use the tap water during a press conference Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 at Hurley Medical Center in Flint. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Director of Pediatric Residency at Hurley Children's Hospital, also requested a connection to the Lake Huron water source as soon as possible. IJake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays holds a glass of treated water from the Flint River before tentatively taking a sip during a ceremony to stop the intake of water from Detroit on Friday, April 25, 2014 at the Flint Water Treatment Plant. The city will use the Flint River as its primary water source as the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline is built.(Samuel Wilson | Mlive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays demands action to hold state government responsible to further aid the city after Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jamie Curtis endorsed Flint Mayor Karen Weaver's request for a federal disaster declaration on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, an application that officials describe as a work in progress. Among the specifics: an estimated million for the replacement of about 15,000 lead water service lines, .2 million to expedite upgrades in the city's water system to prepare it for treating and distributing water from the Karegnondi Water Authority, and an unspecified amount to lessen the health effects of elevated lead in water. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays leads the walk as about 50 gather during a Neighborhood Art Parade on Thursday, June 30, 2016 around Iroquois Park on Flint's North side. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays cheers on President Barack Obama as he cracks a joke about waiting for his water during his speech about the Flint water crisis on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at Flint Northwestern High School on the city's north side. Obama came to Flint to witness, investigate and speak about the Flint water crisis. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Mayor Karen Weaver gets a high-five from City Councilman Eric Mays while continuing to watch the end of the match as more than 200 people gather on Aug. 21, 2016 at Berston Field House on Flint's north side to witness Flint boxer Claressa Shields defeat Netherlands fighter Nouchka Fontijn by unanimous decision to claim her place in U.S. boxing history winning the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, her second gold medal in back-to-back Olympics. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays prays along with several hundred supporters of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver mo during the benediction after Weaver took her oath of office as the first woman mayor on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 at City Hall in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Councilman Eric Mays is taken out in handcuffs after being after being asked to leave by council president Kerry Nelson for being disruptive at the Flint City Hall Monday, August 1, 2016 in downtown Flint. The Flint City Council held a special meeting to discuss a recent lawsuit surrounding the city's controversial trash contract. The meeting was to ask the Flint City Council to join Councilman Scott Kincaid in his efforts to sue Mayor Karen Weaver and her administration regarding her move to not acknowledge a resolution from the council to continue using Republic Services to haul the city's trash. (Mark Felix | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays stands to applaud Flint Mayor Karen Weaver as she takes her oath of office in front of a standing room only crowd, witnessing history as she was sworn in as the first woman mayor on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 at City Hall in Flint. Several hundred residents, including other area politicians and dignitaries, were in attendance. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays informs residents that the citywide water giveaway was canceled on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 outside of Flint City Hall in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Eric Mays, 1st Ward councilman, addresses the public for two minutes during the city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at Flint City Hall. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays prays before a homecoming event for Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee, a Flint native and NBA champion who brought home the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy, on a homecoming tour Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017 in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
First Ward City Councilman Eric Mays, 59, who is running for re-election in Flint's Nov. 7 election, poses for a portrait on Orange Lane in his ward on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, in Flint. If elected for a second term, Mays said he would "prove to the people of the City of Flint that City Council can hold very productive meetings in an orderly, professional manner." He vowed to improve Flint police response times, and address blight by having the land bank cut weeds "more than once a year" and demolish or refurbish vacant homes at a more rapid pace. (Terray Sylvester | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays pulls Flint Mayor Karen Weaver close as they share a celebratory hug for her victory, winning 53 percent of the vote to secure her position amidst a recall election with 18 mayoral candidates on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 at an election watch party at her campaign headquarters across the street from City Hall in Flint. This victory allows her to continue in her role for another two years. Mays was also re-elected into his First Ward Flint City Council seat. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, left, looks up as Flint City Councilman Eric Mays and Rev. Jesse Jackson are interviewed after she won 53 percent of the vote to secure her position amidst a recall election with 18 mayoral candidates on the ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017 at an election watch party at her campaign headquarters across the street from City Hall in Flint. This victory allows her to continue in her role for another two years. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays announces his repugnance of the city's water quality on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 while marching up and down Saginaw Street in downtown Flint. The city began using the Flint River as its source of drinking water in April after 50 years of handling only the distribution of already-treated Lake Huron water purchased from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, 1st Ward, kneels at the front of the gallery to hear Genesee District Judge William Crawford read through a prepared statement during a hearing where Dr. Eden Wells, Michigans chief medical executive, was bound over to circuit court on charges including involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice and lying to a peace officer ruled Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at Genesee District Court in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays was removed as the Finance Comittee Chairman, and removed by police before the decision was finalized on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 at Flint City Hall in downtown Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays prays among dozens gather mourning the loss of 17-year-old Alexis Aaron during a vigil on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at Max Brandon Park on Flint's north side. Aaron was shot in the back on Sunday, July 26 in the 900 block of Johnson Avenue off West Court Street in Flint, and died two days later. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, 1st Ward, raises his fist as he participates with hundreds during the Juneteenth motorcade from Max Brandon Park to downtown Flint on Friday, June 19, 2020. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays stands amongst supporters and protesters who gather for and against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 outside of the Flint Water Plant in Flint. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays yells after facing criticism as around 50 people attend a rally at city hall on Friday, April 21, 2017, in Flint, following the arrest of six individuals at a town hall meeting Thursday evening at House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church. Delgado was one of the six arrested. (Mac Snyder | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Councilman Eric Mays walks out of the Flint City Council meeting as the crowd and he yells on Monday evening, June 26, 2017 discussing the city's water problems and other issues at City Hall. (Shannon Millard | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays leans on a palette of water as he listens to health officials answer residents' questions during a Flint water town hall on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the University of Michigan-Flint Northbank Center in downtown Flint. Between a water quality panel and a health care and medical panel, officials spoke to residents about the state of the Flint water crisis, answering questions written by those in attendance. Both panels were unable to get through all of the questions, but plan to answer all of the questions on the website www.flintcares.com. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays joins about 30 people outside of the Flint Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 in downtown Flint, in protest of the city's water crisis today and a recent move from President Donald Trump preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from releasing information to the public. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays argues against the legality of receiving a resolution minutes before a vote to approve a one-year moratorium during a special meeting Wednesday, May 17, 2017 on approximately 8,000 liens that could be placed on properties across the city. The liens cover two years of delinquent water and sewer billings with a specified balance that was called on to be paid no later than May 19 to avoid the billings being placed on the tax roll, which could lead to homeowners losing their homes, according to the resolution. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Eric Mays opens the city council hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018 at City Hall in downtown Flint. (Kaiti Sullivan | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, 1st Ward, addresses criticisms during a town hall meeting on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 for performing the Nazi salute and comparing Council President Monica Galloway to Adolf Hitler at the Jan. 13 general council meeting. Mays also answered questions for various other topics or concerns of residents from his ward. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, who represents the 1st Ward, hugs Jasmine McKenney, daughter of Woodrow Stanley, on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint, during a funeral service celebrating the life of former Flint Mayor Woodrow Stanley, a long-standing public servant who held many political roles in the city. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays poses for a portrait on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Kearsley Park in Flint as concerned residents and city officials gathered to reflect on eight years since the water crisis began. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Eric Mays, 1st Ward Flint City Council member, speaks with reporters after his disorderly conduct trial was delayed due to lack of jurors on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at Genesee District Court in downtown Flint. Mays’ trial was delayed until February after only 10 citizens showed up for jury duty after having been summoned, and Judge Vikki Bayeh-Haley said she may hold a show cause hearing to find those who were served with contempt of court for failing to appear. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays speaks during a press conference on Friday, Aug. 21, 2020 outside of Christ Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Flint. Community members, activists and politicians reacted to the 0 million settlement in civil cases filed by Flint residents over the cityÕs water crisis. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Flint City Councilman Eric Mays, elected to represent the 1st Ward, smiles gleefully during a Flint City Council swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 at Flint City Hall. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Eric Mays, Ward 1 councilman, raises his fist during a city council meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Flint City Hall. (Sarahbeth Maney | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com
Read more from The Flint Journal:
Tributes pour in as death silences Flint Councilman Eric Mays’ bold, unwavering voice
‘If the teeth fit, you must acquit,’ Eric Mays has a colorfully weird history in Flint politics
Activists, Eric Mays take on Flint water crisis issues on 9-year anniversary
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