Bowdre Phinizy Mays Jr.

Bowdre Phinizy Mays, Jr., died on April 15, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.

Born Feb. 4, 1927, the first son and second child of the late Frank Clark Inman and Bowdre Phinizy Mays at the old University Hospital, Augusta, GA. His beloved maternal grandmother, Frankie Clark Inman Doughty and his great-aunts Mary Lou Phinizy (Godmother), and Mary Stedman (“Ted”) Clark Ridgely had an important impact on this their first grandchild and great nephew in developing an appreciation for sense of family and history in general.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lynn Alexander Mays, two daughters Tracy Mays Olmsted of Mount Pleasant, SC and Katherine Mays Bunker, (Brett) Fort Collins, CO; six grandchildren Mary Inman Olmsted Vojt (Andrew), Elizabeth Law Olmsted, Katherine Drake Olmsted, Alexander Mays Bunker (Kaitlyn), Kerrigan Russell Bunker, and Charlotte Foley Bunker. He was predeceased by his beloved sister Frank Mays Hull Pride, and his three younger brothers Samuel Warren Mays, Sr., Walter Inman Mays, and Stedman Clark Mays. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; Aecks, Hulls, Inmans, Mays and Phinizys to whom he was devoted.

After attending William Robinson, Academy of Richmond County, North Carolina State College, and graduating from the University of Georgia in Athens in 1948, he went to New York and joined American Foreign Insurance Association. Sent to Tokyo, Japan in June 1949, he worked in the AFIA Tokyo and Yokohama offices. He was then assigned to Manila, Philippines in 1952. He moved to Hong Kong as Branch Manager from late 1953 to 1957.

He transferred as General Manager to Bogota, Colombia. This was his first business opportunity to use the Spanish language he had studied in school and later became fluent. He returned to New York Head Office in 1960 becoming Area Director for Japan and Far East and then transferred as Resident VP to Singapore in 1965 to organize a Regional Office for South-East Asia including the Indian sub-continent.

He married Lynn Ann Alexander of Dallas, TX June 5, 1965, in New York City at the Church of the Transfiguration, commonly known as the “Little Church Around the Corner.” Lynn and Bowdre honeymooned in Bermuda and Europe, then went on to Singapore, where they lived for seven years and welcomed their two daughters.

In 1973 he was transferred to Brussels, Belgium as Vice President for Continental Europe. Returning to New York in 1982, he served as Vice President responsible for all international relations and government affairs in Washington until1984 when he moved abroad to manage the Cigna Area office in Athens, Greece. He was responsible for all business including Eastern Mediterranean and Gulf nations, Pakistan, and Africa. He was elected a Director of Cigna’s European Company. He retired from Cigna International as Senior Vice President March 1992. During his 44 years in the international insurance world, he served on several American and International boards and committees in the USA and abroad and was both a former and life member of several overseas clubs in Asia and Europe.

In Augusta, he was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Augusta Country Club, and The Society of Colonial Wars. Besides his love and devotion to his family, he was an avid reader and collector of books. In retirement he authored a book, Is Living Well Still the Best Revenge?, relative to his life and interesting history in the Georgia cities of Athens, Atlanta, and Augusta.

A memorial service will be held at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Augusta, on Monday April 20, 2026 at 3:00, presided by the Reverend Doctor Eric Biddy, preceded by a private family burial at Magnolia Cemetery on Mays/ Phinizy Mausoleum plot. 

The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the Brandon Wilde Community, and the loving care and friendship extended by so many. Special thanks to his compassionate and beloved caregivers, Allison Shellstrom and Zelma Turner.

If desired, contributions may be made to Saint Paul’s Church Endowment Fund.

Arrangements were provided by Platt's Funeral Home 337 North Belair Road, Evans, GA 30809 (706) 860-6166. Please take a moment to share your condolences, memories, and photos at online guestbook at www.plattsfuneralhome.com