John Douglas Mayo

John Douglas Mayo, 79, of Bluefield, WV, died Wednesday August 31, 2022 at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley, WV. John was born in Yards, VA, son of the late John and Ella Dillon Mayo. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Sybil Duncan Mayo; his step-mother, Betty Mayo; brothers, Garnet, Samuel, and James; sisters, Jean Mayo Parker and Carol Sue Mayo; and half-sister, Ann Coffey. Survivors include his sons, Mark of Bluefield, WV and Shaun of Beckley, WV; sisters, Shirley Shrader of Bluefield, VA and Judy Gardner of Staunton, VA; half-brothers, Mike of Randleman, NC, Steve of Falls Mills, VA, Charles of Georgia, MD; half-sister, Brenda Mayo of Bluewell; several grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces. After graduating from Pocahontas High School in 1960, he went to work for the legendary Virgil (Stubby) Currence at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, going to work at 4 p.m. and getting off at 1 a.m. with no car. He walked from Bluefield to Pocahontas one morning to his sister’s house…a little over eleven miles. John was named Sports Editor at the Telegraph in 1964 and was presented the Virginia High School League Award for promoting athletics in 1970. He was also elected President of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association in 1971. He left the Telegraph shortly thereafter, going to work for the legendary H. Edward Steele and Frazier Miller in the advertising department of Bluefield Supply Company. John spent three years there before going into sign sales in 1974, where he remained until he quit at the age of 74in 2017. His first love was sports. He covered the 2-1 Pocahontas win over Montcalm but his biggest “news” break came when he broke the story of Jim Carlen leaving as football coach at West Virginia University and taking the Texas Tech position immediately follow the Peach Bowl. The Associated Press and United Press International would not print the story until Carlen resighned after the game…making the Telegraph as the only paper in the country to have the story before it happened. John always listed his favorite two bosses as Stubby Currence at the Telegraph, and Charlie Collier at Dove Signs, often following their patterns in life. As per his request, Mr. Mayo will be cremated and there will be no services. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. John Douglas Mayo.

John Douglas Mayo

February 4, 1943 - August 31, 2022