Pres Mayson
(18 JUN 1932, 30 MAR 2009)
Soldier, physician, attorney & artist. MD George Washington 1962),
JD Washington & Lee 1991). Painter of oil portraits & landscapes since 1960).
Pres Mayson Eulogies
Paintings by Preston Mayson
Vietnam Experiences 1966) (1967)
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John Feagin and Pres Mayson
Vietnam, c1967)
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Preston and Sara Mayson, Stan Sydenham, Matt and Betty Schepps
at Dave McNerney and Fran Laylor's engagement party
Washington DC 1955)
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L - 2
1st Row: Goldstein, Hardy, Schlotter, Faurer, Cutchin, Landers
2nd Row: Mayson, Darrah, Volkstadt, Barker
3rd Row: Herren, Karnes, Doerr, Smetana
4th Row: McNerney, Maus, Spellman, Schepps, Sydenham (CO)
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2nd Regt Staff
Burroughs, Schow, Roades, Bishop, Mayson, Patton
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UNITED SATES MILITARY ACADEMY at the time of the death of Preston Brooks Mayson, Jr., Cullum # 20326, USMA Class of 1955) I was not so selfish as to deprive a family member, classmate or longtime friend of the opportunity and delight, having outlived me, of writing this obituary except for good reason. I wrote this obituary because I wanted my existence recorded correctly, for as you will read my life experiences were much different from most USMA graduates. I was descended from Samuel Hart, an Episcopal rector who emigrated to CharlesTown, South Carolina from England and died while serving as a chaplain in the Continental Army in 1779. Another ancestor, Hart's son-in law, Colonel James Mayson (1739,1799) an emigrant from Scotland, was a planter and patriot who served with distinction in the Cherokee Wars and Revolutionary War and was later a judge in Newberry County, SC. Other ancestors in the "up-country" of South Carolina included the Hannons, (massacred by Cherokee Indians in 1776), lumbermen, a whiskey salesman (God bless him), physicians, lawyers and a wholesale grocer. In addition a cousin traced our ancestry back to Charles Morgan in Wales, the brother of privateer, Sir Henry Morgan. Now I know from where the whiskey salesman got his inspiration. My mother was Rowena Morgan Mayson and my father was Colonel Preston Brooks Mayson, US Army, who was an attorney and judge in Spartanburg, SC after his retirement from the Army. My only brother, Colonel Elford Morgan Mayson, was a distinguished graduate of West Point, class of 1956). So the genes of a privateer, Indian fighters, farmers, whiskey peddlers, soldiers, physicians, lawyers and judges bade me to "tread where they had trod." Of course, I was justly proud of my immediate family. My wife, Sara Dudley Heaton Mayson, is the daughter of the late Lieutenant General Leonard Dudley Heaton, Medical Courps, who was the Army Surgeon General for over 10 years. My older son, Brooks Heaton Mayson, is a graduate of Washington & Lee University, was a commercial airline pilot and now runs his own business. My younger son, James Dudley Mayson, is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and Emory School of Law and defends doctors in medical malpractice law suits. Sara and I were married on June 16, 1955) and my first two assignments were with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 25th Infantry Division. I was granted a leave of absence from the Army in 1958) when I entered medical school, was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in my Junior year and received my Doctor of Medicine degree in 1962) from George Washington University. I was Chief of Radiology in the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam from September 1966) until October 1967). Then I returned to Walter Reed Hospital as became Chief of the Diagnostic Radiology Department in 1969). I left the Army in 1970) and practiced private radiology in Roanoke, Virginia until 1988) when I entered law school. I received my law degree in 1991) and practiced medical malpractice law in Roanoke until 2000) when I retired. My interesting, stimulating and multi-disciplined careers mostly sprang from my curiosity. Could I do it, could I take the pain and accomplish the task? We all remembered that nagging question at the beginning of plebe year, on the darkest nights in Ranger School, in Vietnam and at many other difficult times during our lives. West Point was a challenge; so was medical school, the practice of medicine, Vietnam, law school, the practice of law and especially the open court room. Could I handle it all and become a least a modicum of success? Today, I would like to say and hope that over and above what I have done as listed, would be any help, good impressions and influences, not only to my family and close friends, but to the many individuals that I have been blessed to serve as my patients and clients. So, if I found any purpose to life, it was this, cram life as full as possible and your rewards will be in your mind, your heart and in your understanding. Finally, I decided a long time ago to allow my loved ones, my friends, and my enemies to reach their own judgments of me, but as for myself, I completely enjoyed being unpredictable and a non-conformist. Although in retirement I became a modestly successful landscape painter, having sold more than 200 paintings as of the time I wrote this, my death arrived before I had finished much that I intended to do. Just the same, from where I am, I am at peace and should there be a stone for me, let it read: "Soldier, Physician, Lawyer, Artist, he played the game of life and won." Preston Brooks Mayson, Jr. Roanoke, VA August 9, 2007) To: West Point Class of 1955) "usma55bus@west-point.org" From: Madison Schepps "mschepps@comcast.net" Subject: usma55bus: Preston Mayson Date sent: Wed, (1 APR 2009) 19:43:40,0400 Dear Classmates, I am sorry to have to inform you of the sudden death of Pres Mayson on Monday March 30th of heart related problems. Pres apparently had a procedure done on his aorta last week, and came home from the hospital. Then on Sunday he didn't feel well, and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital and died on Monday. This information just came to the class this evening. The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow April 2nd in Roanoke, Virginia. The service will take place at 1:00 PM at the Second Presbyterian Church, 214 Mountain Ave. Betty and I will attend the funeral. The family has requested no flowers, so the class contribution will go to the church. In sadness, Matt Date sent: Wed, 0(1 APR 2009) 22:51:50,0500 From: ColJack "coljack@austin.rr.com" To: 1955Bus "usma55bus@west-point.org" Subject: usma55bus: Death of Preston Brooks Mason, Jr. , Class of 1955), Co L2, Cullum #20326, Monday, (MAR 30, 2009), Roanoke, VA. It is with deep regret and further sadness after the events of the last week in our recent losses of faithful and loyal classmates that I pass on further distressing news. Please provide our notification message to the class on the death of Pres Mason on Monday, (MAR 30, 2009) in Roanoke,VA. Pop Warner learned of Pres's death through an obituary in the Roanoke paper today and advised me by e mail this evening. In turn, I called the family to determine details for the class, since we had not heard this from any other source. According to his youngest son, Jay Mayson, his dad, Pres, was in the hospital last Tuesday for repair of an Aorta Aneurysm and returned home on Friday. He did not feel well on Saturday evening and was going to the Doctor on Sunday morning when he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital, placed on a resuscitator, but did not recover, passing away on Monday. His funeral services are scheduled for 1:00PM, tomorrow, Thursday, (APR 2, at the 2d Presbyterian Church, 214 Mountain Ave, Roanoke, VA. He will be cremated and his ashes inurned on the church grounds. I informed Jay of our class outreach and support and offered to provide a class wreath for the funeral, but Jay said it was Pres wishes not for flowers, but for a donation to the "2d Presbyterian Church Second Fund", 211 Mountain Ave, Roanoke, VA. I immediately called Matt Schepps, L2, nearest classmate, who might be able to attend the funeral and Matt will serve as the LCA for the class. Jim Cutchins, L2, is also in the area and served earlier as LCA for Will Volkstadt in 2007). Jim and the other L2 troops will be notified directly by Matt tonight. I would hope that others might also be near enough to attend the services tomorrow afternoon. Pres was a fine soldier, doctor, lawyer, father, husband and classmate. (MAY he now be at rest among the warriors who have gone on before. In Sympathy, GRIP HANDS, Carl Carl H. McNair, Jr. President, Class of 1955) (O) 703-645-4460 (Fax) 703-573-5563 e mail: cmcnair2@csc.com Dr. Preston Brooks Mayson Jr., 76, of Roanoke, Va., soldier, physician, lawyer and artist, died on March 30, 2009), at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sara Dudley Heaton Mayson, of Roanoke; two sons, Brooks Heaton Mayson, of Jamestown, N.C., and James Dudley Mayson, of Staunton, Va.; five grandchildren, Sara Kathryn Mayson, James Dudley Mayson Jr., Morgan Heaton Mayson, Chloe Elizabeth Mayson, and Emma Sophia Mayson; and two daughters-in-law, Millie Parks Mayson and Kelley White Mayson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Colonel and Mrs. Preston B. Mayson, and his brother, Colonel Elford Morgan Mayson. Dr. Mayson was born in Spartanburg, S.C. He was descended from early settlers of Virginia and South Carolina who fought in the Cherokee Wars and the American Revolutionary War. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy; George Washington University School of Medicine, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; and, Washington and Lee University School of Law. His Army service included tours of duty with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 25th Infantry Division, Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, Calif., Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C., and the 93rd Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam. He practiced radiology with Radiology Associates in Roanoke for 18 years, and, after receiving his law degree, he practiced law in Roanoke for nine years before retiring in 2000). He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and of many professional military, medical, and legal organizations. He was a workman who did not always follow expected conventions, but who tried to apply the guidance espoused in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye (MAY prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," through his service to his country, his patients, and his clients. During his long careers and in retirement, he enjoyed painting oil landscapes, many of which hang in homes and businesses throughout the Roanoke Valley and in many southeastern states. A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church on Thursday, April 2, 2009), at 1 p.m., with Dr. William R. Klein and L. Gerald Carter, CLP, officiating. The family will receive friends in Fellowship Hall following the service. Memorials (MAY be made to Second Presbyterian Church Second Fund, 214 Mountain Ave., Roanoke, Va. 24016. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100. The Roanoke Times 2 April 2009) To: West Point Class of 1955) "usma55bus@west-point.org" From: Madison Schepps "mschepps@comcast.net" Subject: usma55bus: Preston Brooks Mayson Jr. Date sent: Thu, (2 APR 2009) 19:46:45,0400 Dear Classmates The funeral for Pres Mayson was held at the Second Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, Virginia on Thursday April 2, 2009). Representing the Class of '55 were Matt and Betty Schepps, and Jim Ryan. The program for the service has "Dr. Preston Brooks Mayson Jr." on the cover with the words "Soldier, physician, lawyer, landscape painter-- he played the game of life and won" Pres is survived by his wife Sara, and two sons, James and Brooks. and five grandchildren. The reception was attended by countless friends and associates from the medical and law communities. We were able to talk to Sara and her sons as well as Helen Mayson who is the widow of Pres' brother Morgan, Class of '56. The reception hall displayed many of Pres' landscape paintings and made you realize how very talented he was as a painter. We have lost a treasured classmate--one who provided valuable advice so many times to so many of us. The class donation will go to the Second Presbyterian Church. Be thou at peace. Matt |
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