MAYO, JOSEPH "JOE" died on Friday, November 16, 2012 at Shock Trauma in Baltimore, University of Maryland. Born on October 23, 1925 in Pleasant Hill, Alabama, he was the son of the late John Buster Mayo and Susan Simonton Mayo. Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Laura Frances Sullivan Mayo (now deceased) and three children. He is the brother of Nettie Simpson Mayo Staggers and was predeceased by brothers John Buster Mayo Jr. and Paul Davidson Mayo. Dr. Mayo grew up in Pleasant Hill Alabama and served in the United States Navy during WWII in the South Pacific. He received a degree in Chemistry at the University of Alabama; Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a Masters Degree Physiology from Auburn University. He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, Alabama and a member of the Frederick American Legion. In 1963 he went to work at Southern Research Institute in Birmingham Alabama. In 1974 he served as a Veterinarian Officer at NCI for the Division of Cancer Treatment. Dr. Mayo was appointed Chief of Mammalian Genetics and served as acting Director of Division of Treatment at NCI Frederick. At the age of 80 Dr. Mayo retired from NCI Frederick and devoted his life to his favorite hobbies farming and research. Upon his retirement he promptly returned to NCI Frederick to volunteer his services and continued to devote time to raising cattle on his farm located in Pleasant Hill, Alabama. The family will receive friends from 4-7pm on Tuesday, November 20, at the Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick, Maryland. Graveside services will be held at 11 am on Wednesday, November 21, at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. Pastor John Culbertson will officiate. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to UMMS Foundation, Shock Trauma, 110 Paca Street, 9th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.keeneybasford.com

Published in The Birmingham News from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21, 2012.