Mr. Douglas Wayne Mayhew, 72, passed away August 28, 2023.  Douglas Wayne Mayhew was born to Robert Lee and Kathryn Doane Mayhew in Petersburg, Virginia. He was the oldest of nine siblings. Doug went to school in Dinwiddie, Virginia where some cousins still reside today. He enjoyed hunting, fast cars, fishing, and spending time with his cousins. While in school, Doug was active in basketball and football. He also loved working on Chevy drag cars. He was well known for having the best looking and fastest drag cars on the street and at the drag strips. Doug's parents moved from Virginia to Fayetteville in 1962 and to Charlotte in 1967. Doug started at an early age of 12 learning to work on Mercedes Benz alongside his dad. This became Doug's trade for more than 30 years. Doug was drafted into the army at age 19 and served two campaigns in the Vietnam as an infantry soldier. He was in the army reserves for 26 years where he taught battle focus classes at several bases in the US. He received the Bronze Star, National Defense, Vietnam, Cross of Ballantry, Vietnam Service Medal Army Commendation Medal, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was an E-6 Staff Sergeant in the reserves. Doug also enjoyed weightlifting and playing in men's softball leagues. It was playing softball when he met the Saylor family and became a charter member at Mt. Lebanon Baptist church. Reverend Bill Saylor shared the plan of salvation, and Doug accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. He served the Lord at Mt. Lebanon by teaching a young adult Sunday school class, teaching RA's and coaching the men's softball team. He also taught a young adult Sunday school class at Shiloh Baptist church for many years. It was through his service at both churches that Doug shared the love of Jesus, with so many early married couples. Doug was led to leave the Mercedes Benz field and became a high school teacher at CATA where he taught for 11 years in the Auto Tech Academy. He also taught night classes for SPCC for six years in the same field. The students built and raced drag cars, learned to weld and even built fast go carts and drove in the bus parking lot. Also at CATA Doug coached girls, basketball, softball, and volleyball. Doug always prayed with the girls before the start of every game. Doug made lifetime relationships with the auto tech students and the girls in sports, and they continue still today. I love you so much!

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 2301 N. Rocky River Road, Monroe, NC 28110.  The family will receive friends from 1:00pm until 2:30pm on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Holland Funeral Service, 806 Circle Drive, Monroe, NC 28112.  Mr. Mayhew will be laid to rest with full military honors in the church cemetery immediately following the service.

Holland Funeral Service is serving the Mayhew Family.